Renaissance No.6 1856

Owen Jones created 'Renaissance No.6' as a chromolithograph print in the 19th century to showcase pattern designs from the Renaissance period. Jones was committed to elevating design and making it accessible. His designs are presented here in a collection, rather than as applied to any specific product. The architecture and decorative arts of the Renaissance in Europe drew heavily on classical antiquity. Jones, like many other nineteenth-century designers, was interested in how historical forms could be adapted to modern purposes. This interest emerged in Britain from the social and economic shifts of the industrial revolution and the rise of design reform movements. By teaching designers about historical forms, Jones hoped to inspire new creations. As an art historian, I consider these pattern designs as more than aesthetic objects. They reflect 19th-century Britain’s social, cultural and intellectual values. To fully appreciate them, we need to research the history of design reform, the impact of industrialization and the complex relationship between past and present.