Design for the painted decoration of a coffered ceiling incorporating the initial: H 1830 - 1897

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise made this design for a painted coffered ceiling using watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink. The design features alternating square panels in red and green. The coffered ceiling has a long history in Western architecture as a signifier of wealth and status. We might assume this design was intended for a private residence, commissioned by a wealthy client who wanted to project an image of power and sophistication. Lachaise was a French designer so it’s likely this design was conceived for a house in France. The initial H included in the pattern hints at a family name, solidifying its presence in the architectural structure of the house. To get a deeper sense of the design we could look into the history of interior design in France at the turn of the century, and research the kinds of clients Lachaise typically worked for. The work of the art historian lies in revealing the complex social and institutional relations that give art its meaning.