This book is about decorative painting in Dutch residential homes and public buildings between 1840 and 1940. A ceiling painting, mantelpiece or door decoration was usually part of the total decoration of the interior, including paneling, stucco, furniture, lighting and upholstery. Much interior painting has disappeared or is in buildings not open to the public. However, some can be viewed, such as the monumental painterly decoration of the stairwell in Paleis Het Loo, the beautiful Nieuwe Kunst murals in villa Rams Woerthe in Steenwijk or the Art Deco painting in Amsterdam's Koninklijk Theater Tuschinski. This theater was named the world's most beautiful cinema in 2021 thanks in part to the paintings.