The Claims of Decorative Art
48
overwhelming mass of examples from every age and clime with which he is overwhelmed. It requires a very powerful artistic digestion to assimilate such a mass and such a variety of orna-
mental us, as
The
styles.
consequences, too, are evident enough around
be properly called the ornament of the period
what may
an extraordinary jumble mixture in the mind of
—
a hybrid production resulting
all
consult the dictionaries of
these styles, all
—
^just
is
from a
one were to
as if
the tongues living and dead, and
take a few words there and a few words here and
call
the results
language or poetry.
David with the armour he had not proved, our designer could put these things away from him, and rely on the sling and the stone of constructive necessity and mother wit, one If,
like
cannot help feeling the result would be better. If we must have ornament let it be good as far as
grow
it
goes,
and
naturally out of the constructural necessities and material
The importance
of the work.
of good design and handicraft
cannot be exaggerated, for upon their health depends the health and the test of the conditions of the arts in all art whatsoever
of
;
any age must be sought in those crafts of design which minister the daily life and common enjoyment of humanity.
A
to
man may
be able, with the proceeds of labour, to spend of thousands pounds upon a single picture, but it does not follow that art
is
making
progress.
—
There
is
no
artistic
inspiration in
thousands of pounds the sculptor cannot even make a golden image out of it. Wealth and luxury can never really foster art they must eventually stifle it. The artist must keep in touch with nature and
life
;
—
he must keep his eye fresh and his heart open
if