Design for a paneled ceiling painted with putti, birds, and floral motifs 1820 - 1897

Editor: So, here we have Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise’s “Design for a paneled ceiling painted with putti, birds, and floral motifs,” made sometime between 1820 and 1897, a drawing utilizing tempera. The intricacy of the design strikes me. All those delicate details – what can you tell me about how the social context might have influenced a work like this? Curator: Given its architectural design function, let's consider how this piece exists as an aspirational object reflecting specific class dynamics and artistic training. It served less as fine art, more as part of an artisanal culture—how social standing can be visually conveyed in architectural spaces. Were these ceilings primarily for domestic spaces or public ones, and what did they communicate? Editor: So it's meant to indicate status, not just beauty. It seems like a very formal space if you were going for status, not a comfy one. Curator: Exactly. Now, consider the role of the institution—presumably, Lachaise had an architectural practice and the cultural context of how an artisan operates. Editor: It is interesting that there's the status of displaying art for display's sake and the idea of building or designing social space for people. Curator: Indeed. And how the public role of art shifted around this period, which goes hand-in-hand with ideas of status and political dynamics. I wonder if such designs were to communicate messages aligned with those in power. Editor: So, art as a status symbol and a reflection of the times. Something to consider as I continue studying the field! Curator: Indeed, thinking about that relationship gives us better understanding and insight on society itself.