Italian Ornament no. 2. Ornaments from the Palazzo Ducale, Mantua 

Owen Jones created this watercolor titled 'Italian Ornament no. 2. Ornaments from the Palazzo Ducale, Mantua'. Jones was an influential figure in the 19th-century design reform movement in Britain, and this work reflects his interest in historical ornament, specifically from the Italian Renaissance. The image presents a series of decorative panels copied from the Palazzo Ducale in Mantua. These patterns, featuring stylized plants and geometric shapes, draw on historical Italian designs. In Jones’s time, there was a growing movement to use historical designs in art education and industrial design. Jones himself published "The Grammar of Ornament" in 1856, a highly influential sourcebook of decorative patterns from various cultures and periods. This image represents how historical designs were seen as a source of inspiration. Historians might consult design pattern books and architectural drawings to further understand the intentions of this design. Approaching art and design in this way provides a glimpse into the cultural values and design principles of the 19th century.