Ornamental Drawing 19th century

This pen and ink drawing of an ornamental design comes to us from an anonymous hand. Though undated, its style suggests a Northern European origin, sometime in the 16th or 17th century. Drawings like this one were pattern templates. They were a crucial part of the early modern workshop economy, which was structured around the master craftsman. The master would train apprentices in standardized designs and techniques. Ornament was especially important as a signifier of status, so it became something that patrons were willing to pay a premium for. Note the classical motifs - the male figure, the grotesque masks - which were hallmarks of elite taste. Workshops would build up a repertoire of patterns like this. Surviving books and folios of ornamental designs show us how masters codified and transmitted their knowledge. The social role of drawings like these, then, was to democratize what had been the preserve of royalty. To learn more, you can consult the vast holdings of the Met's Department of Drawings and Prints. Consider how the history of the decorative arts is intertwined with the history of social class.