ticketsMember | Make a donation

Design for the Decoration of a Ceiling

ca. 1660–90
Not on view
La Fosse was one of the most important French decorative painters in the generation following Charles Le Brun (French, 1619–1690). He created ceilings and paintings for churches, palaces, and many royal residences, including the Palace of Versailles. His training included an unusually long three-year stint in Venice, which influenced his warm painterly style. This freely worked study for a ceiling has not been connected with a specific commission; it may have been either unexecuted or created for a building which has since been destroyed. The roughly sketched central field suggests airborne mythological figures, perhaps representing the apotheosis of a female deity.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Design for the Decoration of a Ceiling
  • Artist: Charles de la Fosse (French, Paris 1636–1716 Paris)
  • Date: ca. 1660–90
  • Medium: Red and black chalk, pen and brown ink
  • Dimensions: 10 7/16 x 15 3/16 in. (26.5 x 38.5 cm)
  • Classifications: Drawings, Ornament & Architecture
  • Credit Line: Anonymous Gift, 1985
  • Object Number: 1985.37
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Sacrifice of Iphigenia, Charles de la Fosse French, Red, black, and white chalk, on gray-brown paper
Sacrifice of Iphigenia
Charles de la Fosse
ca. 1678
Gentleman Seated in an Armchair, Charles de la Fosse French, Red, black, and white chalk, on beige paper
Gentleman Seated in an Armchair
Charles de la Fosse
late 17th century–early 18th century
The Vision of St. John of the Cross, Charles de la Fosse French, Black chalk, over red chalk, heightened with white on gray paper
The Vision of St. John of the Cross
Charles de la Fosse
Antonio de Pereda
n.d.
Head of a Young Girl and Studies of Hands and of her Right Foot, Charles de la Fosse French, Black, red and white chalk, touches of yellow and pink pastel, on beige paper
Head of a Young Girl and Studies of Hands and of her Right Foot
Charles de la Fosse
n.d.
The Sacrifice of Iphigenia, Charles de la Fosse French, Enamel on copper, British, possibly Birmingham
The Sacrifice of Iphigenia
Charles de la Fosse
ca. 1755–60

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.