Sunday 27 January 2013

More on Benedictus

You may remember that I bought some fabric based on the designs of Edouard Benedictus, which had been created from the V  & A collection.  I decided to try to find out a bit more about him and bought the book above to help.  I had also searched on the internet, but there wasn't a huge lot available. According to various websites,  he lived from 1878/9 - 1930 and was an artist, designer and chemist (who discovered and created laminated glass in 1903).  He also created designs for fabric, textiles, upholstery and wallpaper.
The Benedictus pattern from the book on the left, with the material (Floral Stripe - a new one which I discovered I hadn't ordered, so immediately remedied that!) on the right.
 He created wonderfully blowsy floral designs.
 He could also create geometric patterns inspired by the colours he saw.
Here are a few complicated geometric patterns he designed.  To me, they predict Bridget Riley's Op Art, but 30 years before she was designing.  These designs above date from 1924, 1926 and 1930.  According to the editor, Charles Rahn Fry, of the book:
 Edouard Benedictus was one of the outstanding artist-designers of the early twentieth century.  Productive from 1900 - 1930, Benedictus witnessed and was magnificently influenced by, the revolutionary developments in European art and design - Art Nouveau, Cubism and Constructivism among them.
Why has it taken me this long to discover him?

10 comments:

  1. What a marvellous find, I had certainly never heard of him - and I went to Art College in the 60s! He was certainly gifted.

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    1. Dear Toffeeapple
      Thank you. He does seem to have been a very talented man. I loked in my books on Art Deco, Textiles and Patterns and there was one mention, I think, but no pictures. Little did I know when I saw that material back in the autumn, just where it would take me!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. Beautiful patterns. The colours are lovely.

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    1. Dear Cookie
      Thank you. The colours are quite muted in a lot of his designs, but then he uses flashes of brightness. As his designs are quite 'busy', I think strong colours throughout would be too garish. Somehow, it all works - but, being a designer, he would know what worked, wouldn't he?
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. He must have been a very clever man.Those patterns and colours are beautiful.

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    1. Dear Anne
      Thank you. I really like both the floral patterns and the geometric too. I wish there was more written about him as a designer.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. What inspiring designs! looking forward to seeing what they inspire you to make! E x

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    1. Dear E
      Thank you. They are fantastic, aren't they? The whole (slim, but lovely) volume is filled with designs like this and I have only really flicked through so far. I am looking forward to becoming better acquainted with his designs, whether through the book or the material I bought. When I have made something Benedictus-related, I'll post about it.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. Those are powerful graphic images, inspiring as Elizabeth says ... what a find!

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    1. Dear Annie
      Thank you. Most of his designs have that powerful feeling and I do wish I had made his acquaintance sooner, but better late than never!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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