Plafond in de kamer van de prinses van Rohan in Hôtel de Soubise 1859

Alphonse Guilletat made this print of the Plafond in the room of the Princess of Rohan in the Hôtel de Soubise. This image encapsulates the opulent artistic tastes of the French aristocracy in a specific time, that of Louis XV. The design itself presents a ceiling intended to awe through its elaborate ornamentation. Cherubs and intricate floral patterns indicate a desire to evoke a sense of classical grandeur and divine right. The architecture of the Hôtel de Soubise, coupled with the decor, would have reinforced the social hierarchy, subtly reminding visitors of the Rohan family's elevated status. Historians consider the broader political and economic context in which such art was produced. The reign of Louis XV was a period of increasing social inequality, and while the aristocracy indulged in extravagant displays of wealth, the common people faced economic hardship. Documentation of the Rohan family and the architecture and design history of the Hôtel de Soubise could further contextualize this artwork. The meaning of art depends on the social and institutional environment that both creates it and views it.