Gallery of Henry II, Fontainebleau, Steel Engraving after Thomas Allom, c. 1845

A steel engraving of the Gallery of Henry II, the Renaissance ballroom of the Palace of Fontainebleau, after Thomas Allom.

The great room recedes from left to right under a deeply coffered ceiling. Painted figures crowd the walls and the arches of the deep window bays, chandeliers hang down the length of the hall, and a musicians' gallery fills the far end. On the polished floor courtiers in sixteenth century dress, ladies in wide skirts and ruffs, bow and talk as if at a royal ball.

The plate is lettered "Drawn by T. Allom" and "Engraved by J.H. Le Keux", with the title "Gallery of Henry II. Fontainbleau", captions in French and German, "Galerie de Henri II. Fontainebleau" and "Heinrich II. Gallerie, Fontainebleau", and the imprint "Fisher, Son and Co. London and Paris". It belongs to Fisher's series of views of France of the mid 1840s and is dated circa 1845.

The ballroom was completed for Henry II and decorated by Primaticcio and Niccolò dell'Abbate, and it is one of the most celebrated interiors of the French Renaissance. John Henry Le Keux was renowned for architectural engraving, and the ceiling here is a tour de force.

A rich, detailed interior that suits a dining room or library. The engraved image measures about 12.4 by 19.1 cm (height by width), and the margins around it carry all the original lettering, which is worth keeping visible in the mat.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.