Design for Ceiling, Hôtel Hope 1867

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise made this ceiling design for the Hôtel Hope using graphite and watercolor. The Hope family were wealthy bankers of English and Dutch descent, and, like other families of that class, they constructed lavish mansions and filled them with expensive decorations. This design reflects the aesthetics of luxury that these families sought, displaying both refined taste and access to rare, skilled craftsmanship. The Hope family would have been closely connected to the art market, and would have had a clear vision of how art could express their social status. The formal elements - the symmetry, the curves, and the pastel colors - evoke a sense of harmony and calm, very much in keeping with the traditions of elite taste. To understand this design better, one could consult archival records from the Hope family, accounts of interior design from that period, and documents from the art market. By combining all of these resources, we can understand better how this design operated in a specific social and institutional context.