Designs for a painted ceiling with filagree borders 1830 - 1897

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise made this design for a painted ceiling with filigree borders with graphite and watercolor around the early 20th century. Looking at this design, we can consider how the arts were institutionalized in France, where Lachaise was from. With the establishment of institutions such as the Académie des Beaux-Arts, there developed a canon of what was considered good and acceptable art. The classical style which became associated with the Académie was often deployed to convey the power and authority of the monarchy. The sinuous curves and stylized floral motifs of Lachaise's design suggest the influence of Art Nouveau, a movement which sought to break away from academic tradition. It embraced decoration and ornament and was intended for mass production. But the design also evokes the opulence of the ancien regime. To fully understand this design, further research would be needed into the changing institutional landscape of the arts in France and the ways in which artists responded to these changes.