Design for Elevation of Gallery Bay, Deepdene, Dorking, Surrey 1875 - 1879

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise designed this elevation of a gallery bay at Deepdene, Dorking, Surrey, using watercolor and graphite. We see a design that speaks to early 20th century aesthetic sensibilities, reflecting a desire for harmony and order. Lachaise, working within the constraints of his time, expressed his creativity through interior design, which was, and to a certain degree remains, a field often associated with femininity and domesticity. This piece, with its balanced composition and muted tones, offers a space of quiet contemplation. The architectural elements—the arches, panels, and decorative motifs—create a sense of structured elegance, mirroring the societal expectations of beauty and refinement during this time. The design invites us to reflect on how architectural spaces shape our experiences and identities. Lachaise seems to be proposing a space where one might seek solace, finding beauty in symmetry and order, while also hinting at the constraints of a world that often dictated one's place and purpose.