Designs for Decorative Vases c. 1760s - 1770s

John Hamilton Mortimer made this drawing of decorative vases using graphite on paper in the 1770s. Mortimer was fascinated by the ways in which art and design could be used to elevate everyday objects. The graphite gives the drawing a delicate and ephemeral quality. The vases are rendered in light, feathery lines, as if they might float away at any moment. Notice how the artist uses the graphite to create a sense of depth and volume, playing with the contrast between light and shadow. Mortimer was interested in blurring the boundaries between fine art and decorative arts. In this drawing, he treats the vases as if they were sculptures, worthy of the same attention and care as any other work of art. It reminds us that even the most functional objects can be beautiful and meaningful.