Design for a ceiling with trompe l'oeil balustrade and sky 1869

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise rendered this ceiling design with trompe l'oeil balustrade and sky using pen, ink, and watercolor. The paper support is itself noteworthy, chosen for its warm tone, which contributes to the overall illusion of depth. The technique here is key. Lachaise uses watercolor washes to mimic the airy lightness of an open sky, contrasting it with the precise linework used to depict the architectural elements. The balustrade, with its intricate detailing and faux-perspective, required considerable skill and patience to execute, and would have been a highly prized skill for any interior designer. The labor involved in creating such a design—and then translating it onto an actual ceiling—speaks to the value placed on handcraftsmanship in interior design during this period. Consider too the social context: this type of design was typically commissioned for wealthy homes, a literal painting-over of the everyday world. By focusing on the materials and making, we can appreciate how such works reflected the values and aspirations of a particular social class, blurring the lines between art, craft, and commerce.