Decorative Plates
from L’Ornement PolychromeThis week we are featuring chromolithographs from the second
series of L’Ornement
Polychrome by French illustrator Albert-Charles-Auguste
Racinet (1825-1893), who was an engraver and artistic director at the Parisian
publisher Firmin Didot et Cie. The
first series of L’Ornement Polychrome was published in ten installments between
1869 and 1873, totaling 100 plates of decorative arts from all over the world,
from antiquity through the eighteen century. The second series of 120 plates
was published from 1885 to 1887, and it included designs from the nineteenth century.
The decorative plates from both series were inspired by various mediums,
including textiles, painting, pottery, woodwork, metalwork, and architecture
from a many different cultures. The plates were designed by many skilled
commercial artists, their names are identified at the lower left hand corner of
each plate.–Sarah, Special Collections Graduate Intern