Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Ciceri House is a marina built between 1803 and 1810 in Saint-Cheron, in the Essonne department. Its architecture is inspired by Italian Renaissance villas, with a Greek cross plan. The building is distinguished by its oil-painted decorations, typical of the Empire style, adorning the ground floor and a room on the floor. These frescoes represent floral motifs, ancient allegories, and mythological scenes, like winged loves playing music.

The painter-decorator Pierre-Luc-Charles Ciceri, of Milanese origin, acquired the property in 1827 and remained its owner until 1835. His intervention marks the history of the place, notably through the realization of the interior decorations. The house is partially listed as a historic monument in 1989 for its decorated rooms, then in 2002 for its facades, roofs and park. Among the protected areas are the old vestibule, the large living room (with three allegorical canvases deposited), and the room called Mérimée, with walls painted in brique red.

Located at 5 rue Lamonion, the villa illustrates the influence of Italian artists in France in the early 19th century. Its state of conservation and its decorations make it a rare testimony of the decorative art of the Napoleonic era. The false marbles of the stairwell and the vegetable garlands of the dining room highlight the know-how of the artisans of the time. Today, the monument remains a remarkable example of neoclassical architecture adapted to a private residence.

The successive protections (1989 and 2002) reflect the heritage value of the site, both for its architecture and its decorations. The Ciceri House thus embodies the dialogue between Italian traditions and French taste under the Empire, while providing an overview of the life of the artistic elites of the time. Its park, included in the classification, completes this set with a preserved landscape.

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