dolls house source information aboutthe aesthetic movement

Art For Arts Sake.

The Aesthetic movement whose motto was "art for art's sake", swept through North America and England in the late 19th century. It had an influence on most of the fine and decorative arts. The work of Oscar Wilde and Aubrey Beardsley are characteristic of this movement. The Aesthetic movement was an attitude as well as a decorational style. Quality of life was seen to correlate with the nature of one’s surroundings. Beauty was for everyone and not just the wealthy and socially elite. Aestheticism focussed on interiors and artefacts of sheer beauty. “L’art pour l’art” was a phrase coined by Victor Cousin a French philosopher of the time. During this time the Industrial Revolution was resisted, new clubs and organizations sprung up and people were hungry for books teaching them how to make the most of their homes.

The Aesthetic movement has also come to represent a style of art and literature that developed in England, starting in 1868 and ending around the time of the trail of Oscar Wilde. It was a reaction against Victorianism. It contradicts the beliefs of William Morris, John Ruskin and Matthew Arnold that Art should serve a functional and useful purpose. Instead they strived for life to copy art. The main characteristics of the Aesthetic movement are as follows:-

Suggestion not statement

Sensuality

Symbolism

Links between words, colours and music

The Aesthetic movement followed on from its predecessors, Shelley, Keats and the Pre-Raphaelites. If you would like Aesthetic paintings to be represented in your Victorian dolls house look for:-

Whistler miniatures

Rossetti miniatures

Peacock feathers

Blue and white china

Japanoiserie

The Aesthetic movement followed a set of rules and principles which could then be used to assess the works of art. These rules covered colour, form and ornament. They were simpler and less elaborate than High Victorian style.

Aesthetic Architecture

Aesthetic architecture was more akin to Queen Anne style than to Victorian architecture. Red brick was used extensively and often had embedded Japanese of sunflower motifs. Chimneys were overly tall and decorated in vertical patterns to emphasise their height. Gables were curved or stepped. Windows were tall and large with small panes of glass

Aesthetic Interiors

If you are striving for an Aesthethic room in your Victorian dolls house or would like to include an Aesthetic influenced room, try to included some of the following:-

Japanoiserie – black woods and ebony instead of mahogany and oak.

Light wood stained or painted green, dark blue or black.

Painted panels instead of carved panels

Walls divided into secondary or tertiary colour schemes. Divide the walls into two or three parts with dado, mouldings, picture rail or plate shelves and friezes. Wallpapers and lincrusta might be used to cover one of these sections.

Electric lighting for the more well to do

Telephone

The Aesthetic Movement

Art For Arts Sake.

Aesthetic Architecture

Aesthetic Interiors