Design for a ceiling decorated with clouds and birds 1830 - 1897

This design for a ceiling, by Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise (1897- ), is a watercolor on paper that displays a delicate, yet intricate, scene of a cloudy sky and birds in flight. The design is framed by ornate gilded moldings and contains small vignettes of figures in the corners, which likely depict scenes related to the overall theme. It is this attention to detail that makes the design especially striking, and a testament to the artistic talents of Lachaise. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is home to this beautiful piece of design history.