Persian Postcard. 4 x 6 watercolor and pen on 140 lb. cold press paper. © 2014 Sheila Delgado
According to Owen Jones in The Grammar of Ornament, Persian ornament is much less pure, and in great want of elegance. His chapter on it is rather short. Throughout, he is comparing Persian designs to those of the Arabs and Moors.
I think he did a great disservice to the designs of the Persian people. Whether that was due to a lack of knowledge, or simply a lack of interest, I am not sure. From the book; The culture of Persia may have seemed very exotic to the Victorian public, but the same could not be said of its political status. The British empire was at its height.
There are six plates included in the chapter. Each flooded with floras. Lavish and curly cue. Bold geometric tiles with abstracted floral motifs. Simple single stem repeats.
This card highlights designs from a Persian manufacturer’s Pattern-Book. Jones helped pioneer modern color theory. I am a little baffled that he could not find more to talk about on these designs. While some of them do remind me of “country cottage” they are flooded with warm, earthy color, and many are quite complex. Maybe it is the over abundance of feminine flowers that didn’t quite appeal to Jones.
The Textile Blog does not have an article on Jones’ Persian chapter. I am including links to some of the others.
Owen Jones and the Renaissance
Owen Jones and the Ornament of Savage Tribes
I have also found Illuminated Books has scans of some of the original pages from the book. Animation Resources has full color scans of the plates in the book, but the site’s authors have made their own comments on the content. They have laid it out on one page, and you can quickly scroll through it.
I am so glad for the new friends I have made in this challenge. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog and to share your opinion. I am glad that so many of you are enjoying these postcards I have created. Now I know that the recipients will enjoy them as well.
Have a happy weekend everyone!
Sheila,
I’ve been commenting on several pics just now and I find on most all of them, you have commented before me! We must like the same ones. (Either that or you comment on everyone’s). This painting is beautiful. I checked out the book and the blog. I could get lost in all that! I love seeing what you do with all this inspiration.
Hi Pam,
I don’t comment on them all… ha ha ha. I was able to catch up a bit today on visiting other artists. That is interesting that we like the same artists. 🙂 I had to share those links. Just too amazing not to. I am in serious danger of getting lost in the book. I too to much time deciding today what to paint next. And as you will see tomorrow. I spent a lot of time painting as well.
Looking forward to your next creation Pam!
Beautiful and bright. This one is really pretty, Sheila
Thanks Vandy – Hope you have fun painting this weekend! Looking forward to seeing them 🙂
Hey There Sheila,
All of these designs you have been painting lately are so intricate and detailed. The colors and lines are wonderful. Super Job! It must be a lot of fun to see the end results. They are just so warm and inviting.
Have a great weekend.
Enjoy Day #19
Thank You Joan 🙂 I am having fun. Sort of reminds me of those posters you could buy, and color yourself. WOW – I just found them online. stuff2color.com. Oh that could be dangerous. I loved filling in those posters.
Happy painting to you Joan 🙂
I know it will be great!