The Grammar of Ornament by George Eliot
The Grammar of Ornament is a book written by Owen Jones and published in 1856. It contains 37 color plates illustrating various styles of ornamental design from different cultures around the world, including Islamic, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance, and Rococo. The book was influential in promoting the use of decorative arts in architecture and interior design during the Victorian era.
By George Eliot · First published 1856 · Genre: Art and Design, Architecture, Cultural History · 1,483 words
First lines
The inventor of movable types, says the venerable Teufelsdrockh, was / disbanding hired armies, cashiering most kings and senates, and creating / a whole new democratic world. Has any one yet said what great things are / being done by the men who are trying to banish ugliness from our streets / and our homes, and to make both the outside and inside of our dwellings / worthy of a world where there are forests and flower-tressed meadows, and / the plumage of birds; where the insects carry lessons of color on their / wings, and even the surface of a stagnant pool will show us the wonders / of iridescence and the most delicate forms of leafage? They, too, are / modifying opinions, for they are modifying men's moods and habits, which / are the mothers of opinions, having quite as much to do with their / formation as the responsible father -- Reason. Think of certain hideous / manufacturing towns where the piety is chiefly a belief in copious / perdition, and the pleasure is chiefly gin. The dingy surface of wall / pierced by the ugliest windows, the staring shop-fronts, paper-hangings, / carpets, brass and gilt mouldings, and advertising placards, have an / effect akin to that of malaria; it is easy to understand that with such / surroundings there is more belief in cruelty than in beneficence, and / that the best earthly bliss attainable is the dulling of the external / senses.
What this Textopian page supports
The Grammar of Ornament is listed on Textopian as an essay by George Eliot, dated 1856 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: George Eliot
- Date: 1856 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Art and Design, Architecture, Cultural History, Educational, Non-fiction
- Length: 1,483 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Confusing
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Grammar of Ornament by George Eliot
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
- The House Of Colour by Francis Sherman
- On English Literature by Charles Kingsley
- The Desire To Paint by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- Lines On The Celebrated Picture By Leonardo Da Vinci Called The Virgin Of The Rocks by Charles Lamb
- Velazquez by S. L. Bensusan
- Picture Galleries by Charles Kingsley
Genres
- Art and Design — The book focuses on the principles and history of ornamental design, exploring various styles and their applications.
- Architecture — It discusses the role of ornamentation in architecture and the importance of artistic reform in interior decoration.
- Cultural History — The work provides a historical overview of ornamental design across different cultures and time periods.
- Educational — The book serves as an educational resource on the principles of design and ornamentation, offering insights into artistic practices.
Tags
design · ornamentation · aesthetics · art · architecture · pattern · color theory · visual culture · historical analysis · craftsmanship · decorative arts · symbolism