Design for Ceiling, Hôtel Hope 1867

This is Jules Lachaise’s “Design for Ceiling, Hôtel Hope,” made with graphite, watercolor, and gouache on paper. It is a preparatory drawing for a decorative scheme that would have been executed in plaster, wood and tile. Note the incredible level of detail, from the foliate patterning to the coffered frames. This required both skillful drawing and a deep understanding of the materiality and techniques of interior design. The arabesque patterns and polychromatic palette are typical of the Beaux-Arts style, which looked to historical sources for inspiration. But consider the amount of labor involved, not only in the design of the ceiling, but also its construction and installation. Highly skilled artisans would have been needed to translate Lachaise’s vision into reality. This division of labor is characteristic of the industrial age, where the designer creates the concept and others execute it. The drawing provides a unique insight into the relationship between art, craft, and industry. It invites us to think about the social and economic context in which decorative schemes like this one were produced.