Pugin, Augustus Welby Northmore: Floriated ornament: a series of thirty-one designs (London, 1875)

VI

INTR OJD UCTION.

natural type for which they were composed, leads to debased forms
and spiritless outline, and in the end to a mere caricature of a beau-
tiful original. It is impossible to improve on the works of God;
and the natural outlines of leaves, flowers, &c., must be more perfect
and beautiful than any invention of man. As I have stated above,
the great skill of the ancient artists was in the adaptation and dispo-
sition of their forms. The present effort can only be considered as
a mere sketch of what can be produced on those principles. As
the patterns are principally intended for stencilling, those colours
most in use have been selected; but in many cases the natural
colour as well as form would greatly improve the effect. As
regards the nomenclature of the plants, &c. selected, I have taken
it from a very curious and beautiful old botanical work, entitled,
u Tabernas montanus eicones Plantarum,” printed at Francfort
in 1590.

A. WELBY PUGIN.