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A wallpaper panel depicting a palatial courtyard framed by ornate blue and green drapery with stone archways, columns, and two lion statues flanking a cobblestone path.
View of Venice Wallpaper, ca. 1840. Mary B. Jackson Fund.

The Art of French Wallpaper Design

November 15, 2024 - May 11, 2025
A wallpaper panel depicting a palatial courtyard framed by ornate blue and green drapery with stone archways, columns, and two lion statues flanking a cobblestone path.
View of Venice Wallpaper, ca. 1840. Mary B. Jackson Fund.

Introduction

The Art of French Wallpaper Design explores the vibrant, surprising designs that adorned walls in the 1700s and 1800s. Featuring more than 100 rare samples of salvaged wallpapers, borders, fragments, and design drawings, this exhibition reveals the creative process and showcases the extraordinary technical skills involved in producing these works, presenting an invaluable resource for artists and enthusiasts alike.

This exhibition celebrates the vision and generosity of collectors Charles and Frances Wilson Huard, whose remarkable collection, assembled in the 1920s and ’30s, is now in the care of the RISD Museum. Accompanied by a comprehensive digital publication, The Art of French Wallpaper Design invites you to explore the remarkable innovation and craftsmanship of these historic pieces.

–Curated by Emily Banas, associate curator of decorative arts and design

Emily Banas, associate curator, decorative arts and design

Exhibition images

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Publications

  • Digital Publication

The Art of French Wallpaper Design

This publication discusses the history, making, and conservation of French wallpapers from the 1700s and 1800s, collected by Charles and Frances Wilson Huard and now in the care of the RISD Museum.

Videos

Video

A Walkthrough of Wallpaper

Video

The Making of Wallpaper

Video

Critical Encounters

Related Objects

Decorative design featuring a cluster of three pale pink flowers with green stems and smaller buds, which have green centers with yellow highlights set against a brown backdrop.

Unknown Maker, French

Wallpaper Fragment
Gray decorative design depicting two rectangles with light vertical stripes above a row of shaded spheres and angular shapes between layers of gray stripes in varying shades with gold accents.

Unknown Maker, French

Border
Aged, bronze bordered, gray wallpaper of a chalice with bronze floral detailing around its rim and body, which extends outwards onto a stone pedestal. Four birds sit atop the chalice.

Zuber & Cie

Directoire Wallpaper border
Incomplete wallpaper design with a yellow floral and swirling leaf pattern with a faint graphite sketch on the left sandwiched between horizontal stripes.

Unknown Maker, French

Design for a Wallpaper Border
Decorative border with a central orange and tan leaf like shapes on a pink background. Above and below are rows of horizontal black dots and stripes.

Unknown Maker, French

Border
Two identical borders of intricate pink and blue floral patterns framed by green vine-like and leafy forms on a cream background with faint gray leafs.

Unknown Maker, French

Pair of Wallpaper Borders
Wallpaper featuring an architectural frieze with ornate and extravagant Corinthian columns and foliage patterns with gold leaf detailing against a gray background.

Joseph Dufour

Wallpaper Dado
Graphite drawing of a lyre with a central human figure crowned by triangular rays. It’s framed by ram-like figures and sits on a base of detailed scrolls and winged animals.

Unknown Maker, French

Design for Wallpaper Ornament
  • More objects +

The Art of French Wallpaper Design

November 15, 2024 - May 11, 2025
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The Art of French Wallpaper Design

November 15, 2024 - May 11, 2025
Download Press Release pdf

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