Victorian Foliage Designs

The leaf is one of the most prevalent and beautiful motifs in art and design, and Victorian artist James Colling's work is a virtuoso exploration of its infinite variety. Based upon painted designs as well as motifs found in historic woven textiles, wood carvings, ironwork and stonework, his magnificent plates showcase over 300 black-and-white designs that range from the naturalistic to the stylized. Artistic renderings of foliage from many species of trees and plants — oak, maple, poppy, ivy, ferns, thistle — are complemented by designs incorporating buds, fruits and flowers. These lovely permission-free designs will also serve as a source of inspiration for artists, designers and craftspeople.