Graphics of the Victorian era (updated)

Based on the research that I have done I found that idealized beauty was clearly shown in the illustrations of the this era. the Victorians were highly influenced by objects from the past. Early Victorian illustrations were framed within architectural motifs which act as borders and some images also show motifs from the romantic period. later on the Victorians removed the borders from some of their designs but the ornate type and idealized beauty were still dominated. Some other later Victorian graphics show sanserif typefaces but the entire pages were still filled with illustrations and type. The Victorians also made use of floral elements  in their designs and also made use of curvilinear forms.

For example this Campbell's soup design by Andy Warhol. Although this design was done in the 60's we can still see this strong Victorian feeling with the hand drawn type.

The Victorian era developed during the period of Queen Victoria. It was the time of moral and religious beliefs. The Victorian’s were seeking for a design spirit to express their epoch; they were affectionate to complex and ornate objects. These influences were adapted to interiors, fashion, furniture, architecture, commercial art and also typography. The Victorian ‘look’ was intensely influenced by their nostalgia for objects from the past. The Victorian design elements were used to decorate borders and elaborate typography. Symmetry was also used heavily in layout and design. The design style of the Victorian’s always filled up the entire page with images and type. Later they began to use decorative boarders. Typography commonly appeared in waves and curves throughout the Victorian era. The Victorian era was a period of imitation and reproduction with many styles including Gothic and Rococo.

Philip B. meggs. and Alston W. Purvis.eds., 2012. Meggs’ History of Graphic Design. Fifth Edition. Hoboken Canada: John Wiley & Sons,Inc pg161

• The above design shows the eclectic confusion of of the Victorian era.
• Medieval letter forms.
• Baroque plant designs.
• Celtic interlaces.
• All combined into a symmetrical design.

• The Victorian era was the time of moral and religious beliefs.
• The Victorian’s searched for for a design spirit to express their epoch.
• Aesthetic confusion often let to contradictory design approaches and philosophies mixed together in a scattered fashion.

Philip B. meggs. and Alston W. Purvis.eds., 2012. Meggs’ History of Graphic Design. Fifth Edition. Hoboken Canada: John Wiley & Sons,Inc pg 161

A. W. N. Pugin

A.W.N. Pugin was one of the leading figures in graphics of the Victorian era he was the English architect who designed ornamental details of the British Houses of Parliament. In the first 19th century A. W. N. Pugin defined design as a moral act that achieved the status of art through the designers ideas and attitudes

Pugin looked into the early period particularly the Gothic, not for style but for principal His influences were of the Gothic architecture, ornament, and letter forms.

A. W. N. Pugin , The British Houses of Parliament

• British Houses of Parliament was constructed between 1840-67
  
• The Gothic Revival evolved form ornamental details inspired by Gothic architecture.

Philip B. meggs. and Alston W. Purvis.eds., 2012. Meggs’ History of Graphic Design. Fifth Edition. Hoboken Canada: John Wiley & Sons,Inc pg 162

Owen Jones

Owen Jones had became the key design influence during the mid century.
He traveled to Spain and the near east and made a systematic study of Islamic designs.
His main influences were through his book of large palettes ” The Grammar of Ornaments”  

Philip B. meggs. and Alston W. Purvis.eds., 2012. Meggs’ History of Graphic Design. Fifth Edition. Hoboken Canada: John Wiley & Sons,Inc pg 162

• Islamic designs
• use of flat colours 
• symmetrical designs
• repetitive patterns 

Illuminated Manuscripts

Illuminated manuscripts are books which are hand written and the text within each book is supplemented with the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders decorated with gold or silver, brilliant colours, or elaborate designs or miniature pictures. Most manuscripts are of a religious nature . The majority of medieval manuscripts, illuminated or non illuminated  were written on parchment most commonly of calf, sheep, or goat skin, but most manuscripts important enough to illuminate were written on the best quality of parchment, called vellum.

Philip B. meggs. and Alston W. Purvis.eds., 2012. Meggs’ History of Graphic Design. Fifth Edition. Hoboken Canada: John Wiley & Sons,Inc pg 46

• The above image is The Pauline Epistles, from the mid-twelfth century.
• This is one of the best examples of the French Gothic style.
• The serpentine initial letter on the left hand page evokes the complexity of the Celtic manuscript design.

Philip B. meggs. and Alston W. Purvis.eds., 2012. Meggs’ History of Graphic Design. Fifth Edition. Hoboken Canada: John Wiley & Sons,Inc pg 56

• The above image is The Ormesby Psalter was created in England during the early 1300′s.
• It is about 33. cm high,  this height allows for the illustrated capital initials containing biblical scenes on gold leaf backgrounds.
• The large text is written in the textura writing style.
• The text is bordered with an intricate frame which is filled with decorative pattern capital initials.

Philip B. meggs. and Alston W. Purvis.eds., 2012. Meggs’ History of Graphic Design. Fifth Edition. Hoboken Canada: John Wiley & Sons,Inc pg 58

In my opinion the Victorian era