Artwork
Design for ornament
Design for ornament is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Godfrey Sykes. It dates from 1863 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This work is a pencil drawing executed on tracing paper, depicting a decorative panel that mirrors the central segment of a round-headed arch. The composition is organized around a central urn motif, flanked by scrolls that unfold into stylized acanthus leaves, creating a balanced, symmetrical arrangement.
Subject & Meaning
The central urn, a classical ornamental element, serves as the focal point, while the surrounding scrolls and foliage suggest a synthesis of architectural and botanical motifs typical of ornamental design. The symmetry and repetition convey a sense of order and refined decoration.
Technique & Style
Rendered with delicate pencil lines, the drawing employs varied shading to suggest depth and texture across the floral and foliate patterns. The artist’s precise line work and subtle tonal gradations achieve a realistic yet restrained visual quality, emphasizing the elegance of the ornamental scheme.
History & Provenance
The piece is identified as a design for ornament, likely intended as a preparatory study for decorative work. No specific artist or date is recorded, and its provenance remains limited to the collection in which it resides.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Raphael (1483–1520) (design for a mosaic in the Victoria and Albert Museum, not executed)
Michelangelo (1475–1564) (design for a mosaic in the Victoria and Albert Museum)
The Adoration of the Shepherds (after Diego Velázquez)
The Fall of Man (after Raphael)
Prince Albert (1819–1861) (design for a mosaic in the Victoria and Albert Museum)
The Judgment of Solomon (after Raphael)
A perspective view of the west front of the International Exhibition 1862
A Smith's Shop
