Ontwerp voor een lichtkroon c. 1835

Jean-Jacques Feuchère made this design for a chandelier sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Feuchère was a French sculptor and designer, celebrated for his ornate, neoclassical designs. Think about the era in which Feuchère was working, a time of shifting social structures and industrial advancement. Aristocrats sought to maintain displays of wealth amidst emerging bourgeois values. The design includes classical motifs and cherubic figures, embodying luxury and opulence. It's interesting to consider the role of ornamentation in reflecting societal values. Does this chandelier uphold traditional aristocratic values, or does it hint at changing tastes and the rise of new money? This design invites us to reflect on the interplay between art, class, and societal transformation. Consider the emotional impact such a grandiose object would have on those who lived alongside it, and how it served to reinforce the social hierarchy of the time.