Study of a Ceiling Decoration, the Bedroom of the Apartment of the Queen Mother at Fontainebleau

"Study of a Ceiling Decoration, the Bedroom of the Apartment of the Queen Mother at Fontainebleau" is a critical preparatory work created by Eugène Delacroix between 1841 and 1846. Classified as a drawing, the piece demonstrates Delacroix’s approach to architectural planning, employing watercolor over a graphite foundation. This combination allowed the artist to swiftly delineate the complex structure of the ceiling while experimenting with the specific color values and light effects required for a decorative mural installed high above the viewer.

This study relates to Delacroix's important commission for the French state to execute vast decorative programs at the historic Château de Fontainebleau. The artist was tasked with renovating and redecorating prestigious royal spaces, including the chambers dedicated to the Queen Mother. The work provides a rare window into Delacroix’s process, showcasing his ability to transition from the expressive drama of his easel paintings to the precise structural demands of large-scale decorative architecture. The detailed rendering emphasizes careful architectural symmetry and the integration of ornamental borders around the central panel.

As an essential document of the artist's working methodology, this preliminary piece illustrates the rigor Delacroix applied to public art commissions. The finished composition would utilize techniques refined in this intimate study to ensure the ornamentation harmonized with the historical grandeur of the royal palace interior. This specific Delacroix drawing is a valued component of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection in New York. Due to the historical nature of the piece, the artwork is now often available in the public domain, allowing scholars and art enthusiasts to study and acquire prints for reference.