What is a Cartouche? |
A cartouche is an intricate ornamental frame with a blank centre often flanked by scrolls. Cartouches commonly frame coats of arms, messages and paintings. The style of a cartouche reflects the fashion and design trends of its era, so you'll see a variety of decorative techniques, from the grand and dramatic Baroque aesthetic, to the straight lines and clear distinction of form found in the Neoclassical style.
The origins of a cartouche extend back to Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. A cartouche was an oval-shaped visual device that encloses the name of a king, Pharaoh or member of royalty. It distinguishes the royal name from the rest of the text and elevates its importance. It was believed that cartouches would protect royalty from malevolent spirits.
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Where did the Rococo style begin?
The rococo style originated in Paris, France and gained popularity in the early 18th century. It is characterised by elaborate curved and floral ornamentation, gilding, white and pastel colours, stylised shapes inspired by nature (vegetables, shell and rock motifs were popular), animals and Chinese and Japanese motifs. Rococo was a lighthearted and elegant response to its aesthetic predecessor, the formal and heavy Baroque / Louis XIV style.
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What is a Flourish? |
Flourishes are decorative curves designed to punctuate or adorn books, official documents, letters, logos and graphics. Typographers used flourishes to highlight a word or strategically placed them in manuscripts to prevent the addition of unauthorised text in the future. Flourishes are a beautiful design element in their own right and can be applied to a multitude of visual styles from Baroque, Celtic, Art Deco and more.
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Interested in Learning More?
Ornamental Design via paperback or eBook. It is a considered and beautifully curated archive of ornamental designs intended for the practical use of artists, designers and craftsmen.
Featured within the pages of this book are crisp, high-resolution reproductions of cartouches, sconces, pendants, frame designs, Rocaille ornaments, scrolls, decorative arms and armour motifs, elaborate portal designs, chinoiserie panels, candelabras, floral motifs, jewellery designs and much more.
This is an essential resource for graphic designers, tattoo artists, collage artists, wood carving artisans and fine artists.
Image Download Included:
Have you ever wished you could have access to these images at a larger scale without having to go through the hassle of scanning each page and distorting the dimensions and image quality?
We've got you. Each book comes with a unique download link providing you with instant access to all of the digitised high-resolution print-ready files. Scale up your chosen design with ease and get back to what you do best, creating.
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