Design for a Floral Pattern
ca. 1883, based on earlier design
Medium
Graphite, ink and gouache (bodycolor)
Dimensions
sheet: 15 15/16 x 11 in. (40.5 x 27.9 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 1992
Accession Number
1992.1046.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
Christopher Dresser's *Design for a Floral Pattern* (ca. 1883, based on an earlier design) exemplifies the innovative spirit of Victorian-era design. Working in graphite, ink, and gouache on a modest sheet measuring 15 15/16 x 11 inches, Dresser crafted this preparatory drawing as a for ornamental textiles or wallpapers. As a pioneering British designer and the first to receive a design patent in the UK, Dresser bridged artistry and industry, creating patterns that could be mass-produced while retaining aesthetic appeal. Rooted in the Aesthetic Movement, which emphasized "art for art's sake,"...
About the Artist
Christopher Dresser · 1834–1904
Christopher Dresser (1834–1904) was one of the most innovative and prolific designers of the nineteenth century, widely regarded as a pioneer of industrial design long before that discipline had a name. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he trained at the Government School of Design in London, where he studied under leading educators committed to improving the quality of British manufactured goods. He wen...