|
Highlight works in The Art of French Wallpaper Design:
● Wallpaper Bandeaux and Pilasters (1790): This monumental panel is one of a pair produced by the manufacturer Arthur et Robert. At approximately seven feet high, the works would have made quite an impression when they were installed in a room. The design was likely meant to imitate the more costly treatment of decorative plasterwork. The image in the central medallion was done in grisaille, a popular method of painting in shades of gray. Through recent conservation efforts, this marvelous panel has been brought back to its original splendor and will be on view for the first time ever.
● Les Cinq Sens (The Five Senses) (ca. 1780): These spectacular wallpapers were created by Italian designer Pierre Cietti and produced by renowned French manufacturer Jean-Baptiste Réveillon as part of a set representing each of the five senses. The motifs reflect the burgeoning influence of classical antiquity during the late 18 th century, and demonstrate the creativity and ingenuity of producing a complex design in a restrained color palette.
● Flocked Wallpaper Border (ca. 1800): Known as a soubassement, or dado, this large wallpaper border was intended to be placed at the base of the wall. It would have been made available with a coordinating wallpaper design featuring the same alternating bands of green seen on the background of this paper. Heightening the visual contrast of the composition is black flocking made from chopped wool fibers adhered to the surface. Flocking was often used to replicate the plush look of textiles, however it quickly expanded to create a dynamic surface treatment on a variety of wallpapers.
● Domino Paper (Papier Dominoté) (1810-1812): This elegant design featuring a composition of flowers and foliage is perhaps the best-known papier dominaté produced by the Atelier Boulard. Known as domino papers, these small format, block-printed sheets were produced for a variety of uses, including covering books, lining drawers, and covering walls.
● Design for a Wallpaper Border (1830): This rare design for a wallpaper border provides a look into the iterations of the artist’s process. The central floral imagery appears to have been pasted over an initial drawing for the composition. The simple graphite drawings at the top and bottom were brought to life with the addition of vibrant pinks and greens painted in gouache. Although it is not known whether this design was brought to fruition, one can imagine its effect in a room would have been extremely cheerful.
● View of Venice Wallpaper (ca. 1840): This rare wallpaper design featuring a city and seascape within a framework of theatrical drapery is in remarkably pristine condition. The vibrant background of blue, pink, and green was produced using a technique called irisé, which allowed for multiple paint colors to be brushed on at once and then blended, creating a seamless background of landscape and sky. This particular form of wallpaper is known as a dessus de porte, or overdoor panel.
● Wallpaper with Birds and Flowers (1700s): This stunning wallpaper is one of three Chinese papers in the Huard Collection. Chinese wallpapers were exclusively produced for export to Europe and America, and these hand-painted papers would have been exponentially more costly than their French block-printed counterparts to produce. This made them all the more desirable to maintain and repair when they were damaged, as was skillfully done with this example by the previous owner.
“The Huard Collection is just one example of the extraordinary depth of RISD Museum’s collection, which emphasizes both important design history and a depth of contemporary innovation. The Art of French Wallpaper Design represents our museum’s commitment to leveraging our collection to engage our community with compelling objects and interesting histories,” said Tsugumi Maki, RISD Museum’s Director. “Wallpaper is an everyday item with which many people are familiar but is likely rarely the subject of broad discussion or consideration. We are excited to change that dynamic, to bring our audiences into this compelling world, and to illuminate the beauty and diversity of these papers. Perhaps we will also inspire some new home projects!”
|
