Renaissance Pattern

Owen Jones' "Grammar of Ornament" (1856) is an incredible assemblage of 112 plates that traverse 19 cultures' design principles. The Renaissance pattern by Owen Jones would reflects the design principles and ornamentation characteristic of the Renaissance period. His work was not about copying or reviving older decorative arts, but about helping young designers make use of the rich underlying design principles in their own work. His patterns and color excited him, sparking a desire to explore further afield than Europe’s classical architecture. His theories on color and pattern continue to inspire designers to this day.

Owen Jones (1809–1874) was a British architect, designer, and influential figure in the field of decorative arts during the Victorian era. Jones is particularly recognized for "The Grammar of Ornament" which is a groundbreaking book that cataloged and analyzed ornamental designs from various historical periods and cultures worldwide. The book was a monumental publishing project that achieved standards of color printing never seen before. It was created using the new and expensive technique of chromolithography. This elaborate method of printing required up to 20 separate lithographic stones and drawings, one for each color. These were then printed one over the other, layer over layer, to form the finished plate.