Design for the decoration of a ceiling 1850 - 1900

This is Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise's design for a ceiling decoration. The composition features a series of radiating lines that create triangular sections, filled with a pattern of stars on a blue background. Stars, from time immemorial, have served as potent symbols of the heavens, divinity, and guidance. Their presence here evokes a sense of the cosmos brought indoors, a celestial canopy. We can see this motif echoed through different times, like in the star-studded ceilings of ancient Roman tombs, where the placement of stars was meant to represent an emotional connection to the divine and promise of celestial protection. The radiating lines are a fascinating gesture—they might remind us of the rays of the sun, which have symbolized enlightenment and power across various cultures. Consider how similar patterns are used in religious art to depict divine emanations, like halos. The psychological effect is one of expansion and elevation, which engages us subconsciously, inviting us to contemplate our place within a larger universe. In the cyclical journey of symbols, the stars, combined with the structural design, create a space that bridges the earthly and the divine.