Design in the nineteenth century meant decoration, and this course traces the emergence of the many decorative styles, both historic revivals and
exotic translations, and the many theories of design that came to define the period.
Adapting John Steegman's vision of Victorian taste, we will use the following themes to bring order to our study of this seemingly chaotic expression: Design for Intellect's Sake, Design for Commerce's Sake, Design for Morals' Sake, and Design for Art's Sake. Readings and lectures will focus principally on Great Britain, the hotbed of 19th-century design theory and reform, while student reports will explore how these styles and attitudes were elaborated in other countries.