Design for Ceiling, Château de Cangé 1850 - 1900

Jules Lachaise designed this ceiling for the Château de Cangé with watercolor, graphite, and pen. Observe the octagonal and diamond shapes, each filled with stylized floral motifs, symbols of growth and harmony. These arabesques, swirling in geometric harmony, echo patterns found in Islamic art and Renaissance frescoes alike. Imagine them as tendrils of thought, reaching across centuries, linking the Château to the Alhambra, to the villas of the Medici. The repetition, almost hypnotic, pulls us into a meditative state, reminiscent of ancient mandalas meant to focus the mind and soothe the soul. Consider the evolution of floral motifs, from sacred lotus blossoms in ancient Egypt to the decorative fleur-de-lis of French royalty. Each iteration carries the weight of its cultural context, yet retains a primal connection to nature's beauty and the cycle of life. The ceiling's design, with its repeating patterns, invites a sense of timelessness, reminding us that even in the most ornate creations, there is a search for order, beauty, and a connection to the past.