Sheet with overall blue and red diamond pattern 1800 - 1900

This anonymous design, dating from the late 18th or 19th century, is a study for a textile pattern. The simple, repetitive design of red and blue diamonds, executed in watercolors, would have been used to create a more complex and visually appealing fabric. This drawing, which was likely created as a sample for a client or for the artist's own reference, is an example of the "pattern book" genre, a common practice during this period to capture and preserve design ideas for future use.