A New Book of Ornaments
Title Page
1762 (first published)
1762 (first published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This print is an etching, which uses the action of acid to create lines on a metal printing plate. The plate was etched in such a way that the resultant print looks like a crayon drawing.
This print originally formed the title-page of a small book entitled A New Book of Ornaments, by the carver Thomas Johnson (born 1714; died after 1778). This small pattern book contained six sheets of Rococo designs for chimney-piece friezes and tablets. The title can be seen inscribed on the right-hand portion of the ruined wall.
People
Johnson, the publisher of this plate, was a furniture designer and carver. In addition, he taught drawing and modelling and issued several pattern books. On this title-page he has described A New Book of Ornaments as 'Useful for Youth to draw after'. He clearly intended his book for use by apprentices or young carvers, to help them learn the basics of Rococo design.
Subject Depicted
Johnson has included various Rococo motifs on this title-page, including the picturesquely ruined wall, the rustic scene with the herdsman and his cows, and the asymmetrical 'rocaille' (rockwork) cartouche that encloses the image.
This print is an etching, which uses the action of acid to create lines on a metal printing plate. The plate was etched in such a way that the resultant print looks like a crayon drawing.
This print originally formed the title-page of a small book entitled A New Book of Ornaments, by the carver Thomas Johnson (born 1714; died after 1778). This small pattern book contained six sheets of Rococo designs for chimney-piece friezes and tablets. The title can be seen inscribed on the right-hand portion of the ruined wall.
People
Johnson, the publisher of this plate, was a furniture designer and carver. In addition, he taught drawing and modelling and issued several pattern books. On this title-page he has described A New Book of Ornaments as 'Useful for Youth to draw after'. He clearly intended his book for use by apprentices or young carvers, to help them learn the basics of Rococo design.
Subject Depicted
Johnson has included various Rococo motifs on this title-page, including the picturesquely ruined wall, the rustic scene with the herdsman and his cows, and the asymmetrical 'rocaille' (rockwork) cartouche that encloses the image.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | A New Book of Ornaments (suite title) |
| Materials and techniques | Etching in the crayon manner. |
| Brief description | Thomas Johnson (after), title plate, 1 of 6 plates, from 'A New Book of Ornaments', London 1762. |
| Physical description | Etching in the crayon manner. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Lettered ' A New Book of Ornaments, BY THOS. JOHNSON, Carver, Design'd for Tablets & Frizes[sic] for Chimney-Pieces; Useful for Youth to draw after' and 'August 28th. 1762 |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
The Rococo style placed great demands on the design and modelling skills of British craftsmen, who had to compete with French imports and foreign craftsmen. This print is from one of a number of books by Thomas Johnson, intended to teach apprentices the basics of Rococo design. Johnson also worked as a woodcarver and drawing master.(27/03/2003) |
| Summary | Object Type This print is an etching, which uses the action of acid to create lines on a metal printing plate. The plate was etched in such a way that the resultant print looks like a crayon drawing. This print originally formed the title-page of a small book entitled A New Book of Ornaments, by the carver Thomas Johnson (born 1714; died after 1778). This small pattern book contained six sheets of Rococo designs for chimney-piece friezes and tablets. The title can be seen inscribed on the right-hand portion of the ruined wall. People Johnson, the publisher of this plate, was a furniture designer and carver. In addition, he taught drawing and modelling and issued several pattern books. On this title-page he has described A New Book of Ornaments as 'Useful for Youth to draw after'. He clearly intended his book for use by apprentices or young carvers, to help them learn the basics of Rococo design. Subject Depicted Johnson has included various Rococo motifs on this title-page, including the picturesquely ruined wall, the rustic scene with the herdsman and his cows, and the asymmetrical 'rocaille' (rockwork) cartouche that encloses the image. |
| Bibliographic reference | Hayward, Helena, 'Newly-discovered Designs by Thomas Johnson', Furniture History, Vol. 11 (1975), pp.40-42. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.416-1975 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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