Middle Ages No.5 1856

Owen Jones made this chromolithograph titled "Middle Ages No. 5" in the 19th century. It depicts a series of tile designs and speaks to the 19th-century interest in the medieval period. Jones was interested in recovering the design principles that had been lost over time. In England, under industrial capitalism, there was an anxiety about the loss of craftsmanship. Jones was part of a design reform movement, and he believed that the decorative arts had the power to improve people's lives, both practically and morally. These images represent a time when art and design were more integrated into everyday life. Works like this allowed Jones to reflect on the social conditions of his own time. Looking at pattern books, design manuals, and architectural records helps us understand Jones' influences and the impact his theories had on the aesthetics of Victorian England. Through studying these sources we can see how he was part of a larger cultural movement that sought to elevate the quality of design in an age of industrial production.