Back in Time ...

To understand better what lead to Art Nouveau we have to look back to what happened beforehand, such as the Gothic Revival which is also known as the Victorian Gothic. This is mostly an architectural movement which took place in mid 18^th century England and its popularity kept growing till the early 19^th century. Admirers such as Pugin instigated people to revive the Medieval Gothic architecture, moving away from the neoclassical styles of the day.

The thing was that since the Industrial Revolution started, people had drifted away from Christianity so this Gothic Revival brought them back to religion and to visit churches because they had introduced a new element to the buildings. Architects like Pugin were bringing back the majestic structures and the “fear of God” as well as the “insignificant feeling” when entering such churches and buildings due to the extreme high arches and stained glass windows. Taking as example the A.W.N. Pugin building of Scarisbrick Hall, it is considered to be one of the finest Victorian Gothic buildings. Also it is hard to identify if it is actual Medieval or Gothic Revival era, such difference is simply the age of such building. Pugin believed in the idea of truth to materials so each material should be used appropriately and should not be hidden. 

In time, John Ruskin took Pugin’s preaching a step further. He was completely against the Industrial Revolution and the mass produced designs it brought with it. Ruskin, together with Morris were the two main founders of the Arts and Crafts movement (1860-1910) which was established after the Great Exhibition. Both Ruskin and Morris believed that if something was done with such craftsmanship and dedication said craftsmen had to be so happy and love what they did. Ruskin believed that the architects and designers of the Gothic period enjoyed complete freedom of expression in their works, which in reality they did not. But Ruskin did not know that such architects were actually commissioned and could not be expressive as they wanted to be.

In time, John Ruskin took Pugin’s preaching a step further. He was completely against the Industrial Revolution and the mass produced designs it brought with it. Ruskin, together with Morris were the two main founders of the Arts and Crafts movement (1860-1910) which was established after the Great Exhibition. Both Ruskin and Morris believed that if something was done with such craftsmanship and dedication said craftsmen had to be so happy and love what they did. Ruskin believed that the architects and designers of the Gothic period enjoyed complete freedom of expression in their works, which in reality they did not. But Ruskin did not know that such architects were actually commissioned and could not be expressive as they wanted to be.

To further understand what was happening to such designers one has to look at what was going on to the rest of the world. Such things as the opening of the Suez Canal and the English colonies were going back to home and taking different cultures back with them. So apart from various periods we also get different cultures being used together, such elements from Celtic art, Japanese prints as well as Egyptian art. Therefore by the help of Owen Jones and his collective book of patterns and designs, The Grammer of ornament” people would know the patterns’ origin and use them accordingly.

Egyptian Print

Greek Print

Medieval Print

Morris Marshall Faulkner & Co. was to create harmony between various parts of a successful work. He wanted crafted things to be affordable but that could never happen. So his down side was that he never connected the industrialisation with craftsmanship.

Artists such as John Evert Millais and Edward Burne-Jones where looking back at Medieval art when painting, but then the figure was from the Renaissance. By doing so they were further paving the way for Art Nouveau.

Lady Godiva by William Morris











Ophelia by Edward Burne-Jones

Later we will see paintings such as this painting by Alfons Mucha in which the various styles and eras are visible. Elements from the Roman era are visible in the profile posture of the woman as well as the mosaic and garland of leaves around her head.  And elements of Japanese prints by the bold outline, block colours and the impression that it looks almost flat. 

Alfons Mucha in comparison with Roman coin and Japanese print.

 UN. 2013. An Encyclopaedia Britannica Company: Gothic Revival. [online] Available at: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gothic%20revival  [Accessed on 19^th October 2013]

UN. UN. Our Civilisation: John Ruskin. [online] Available at: http://www.ourcivilisation.com/decline/ruskinj.htm  [Accessed on 19^th October 2013]

Anja Wessels. March 2012. Art Nouveau by Alfons Mucha. [online] Available at: http://mybestongoogleplus.blogspot.com/2012/03/art-nouveau-by-alfons-mucha.html [Accessed on 19^th October 2013]

Owen Jones: The Grammer of Ornamnet. [online] Available at: http://www.thegrammarofornament.com/ [Accessed on 19^th October 2013]

finds, 2013. Portable Antiques Scheme: Augustus. [online] Available at: http://finds.org.uk/romancoins/emperors/emperor/id/1 [Accessed on 19^th October 2013]

Softpedia. 2008. Antique Japanese Bird Prints Screenshots.  [online] Available at:  http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Antique-Japanese-Bird-Prints-Screenshot-27310.html [Accessed on 19^th October 2013]

June 2011. The William Morris Society: Furniture and Other Decorative Arts [online] Available at: http://www.morrissociety.org/morris/artdecorative.html [Accessed on 19^th October 2013]