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Elementary Outlines of Ornament

Print
1842-1843 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This print is a teaching aid and was therefore mounted on card and bound along its edges for easy handling and preservation of the object.

Ownership & Use
This is from a set of teaching diagrams which were known as 'Elementary Outlines of Ornament' or more familiarly 'Dyce's Outlines'. Dyce also published them in The Drawing Book of the Government School of Design in 1842-1843. In his introduction to the latter, he described the basic steps for the early training of students in drawing. Step 1 was to copy 'combinations of right lines and regular curves'; Step 2 was to copy these geometrical diagrams of Greek ornament, such as the acanthus leaf shown here; Steps 3 and 4 were to study their ornamental shapes in two or three dimensions, working from drawings and casts.

The 'outlines' were first used in the School of Design and formed the basis of the elementary drawing lessons promoted by the science and art department in British schools. Although some criticised them for being uninspiring for students, they remained influential until the 1870s.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleElementary Outlines of Ornament (series title)
Materials and techniques
Lithograph, ink on paper, mounted on card
Brief description
Mounted teaching Diagram from Dyce's Drawing Book; plates 17 (recto) and 18 (verso), From 'Elementary Outlines of Ornament' By William Dyce RA, published by Chapman & Hall, London, 1842-1843
Dimensions
  • Height: 31cm
  • Width: 37.2cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 10/10/2000 by PaperCons
Marks and inscriptions
Lettered with plate numbers 'XVII' and 'XVIII'
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
This diagram was published by William Dyce, a well-known painter and Superintendent of the Government School of Design at South Kensington, London. It is part of the set for the instruction of 'Geometrical Design', designed as exercises for students to draw free-hand to understand the basic geometrical principles, and apply them to the construction of geometrical patterns.
Object history
From 'Elementary Outlines of Ornament'By William Dyce RA (born in Aberdeen, 1806, died in London, 1864); published by Chapman & Hall, Strand, London
Production
From 'Elementary Outlines of Ornament'By William Dyce RA.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Object Type
This print is a teaching aid and was therefore mounted on card and bound along its edges for easy handling and preservation of the object.

Ownership & Use
This is from a set of teaching diagrams which were known as 'Elementary Outlines of Ornament' or more familiarly 'Dyce's Outlines'. Dyce also published them in The Drawing Book of the Government School of Design in 1842-1843. In his introduction to the latter, he described the basic steps for the early training of students in drawing. Step 1 was to copy 'combinations of right lines and regular curves'; Step 2 was to copy these geometrical diagrams of Greek ornament, such as the acanthus leaf shown here; Steps 3 and 4 were to study their ornamental shapes in two or three dimensions, working from drawings and casts.

The 'outlines' were first used in the School of Design and formed the basis of the elementary drawing lessons promoted by the science and art department in British schools. Although some criticised them for being uninspiring for students, they remained influential until the 1870s.
Collection
Accession number
15661:9

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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