The residence's architect provided Coggeshall with an outstanding "canvass" for this particular work.b
Coggeshall skillfully utilized the shape of this top of the stairs cove.

Note the soft ceiling cloudscape in subtile tones of blues and beige; the trompe l'oel archways; the cording and tassels hung between the windows and the faux stone wall. leads tstone
\Below, a set of steps leads to a stone "balcony" painted on an adjoining wall.
On the second floor stairway several stones were painted as "missing" so that chubby cherubs could fly into the room, each carrying a banner with one of the homeowner's three children's names.

The only other true color in this grisaille was the delicate wash of rose tones for the cheeks of the cherubs.
More grisaille?