Owen Jones (1809–1874) was an English architect, designer, writer, and publisher. He became known in the 19th century for his theories on color, geometry, and ornament, and his work The Grammar of Ornament (1856) left a lasting influence on the development of modern decorative arts.

Early Life and Education

Owen Jones was born in London on 15 February 1809. In 1825, he began his professional career as an apprentice to architect Lewis Vulliamy. During his student years, Vulliamy had traveled in Italy, Greece, and in 1818 Istanbul, where he made detailed drawings not only of classical ruins but also of mosques, using the new scientific drawing instruments of the period. These experiences passed on to Jones both direct observations of Islamic architecture and systematic methods for documenting architecture.

From 1829 onward, Jones studied architecture at the Royal Academy Schools in London. There, alongside classical architecture, he became acquainted with debates on architectural polychromy. The knowledge he gained during his apprenticeship and academic years laid the foundation for his later focus on color and ornament.

Early Travels and First Works

Between 1832 and 1834, Jones traveled through Italy, Greece, Türkiye, and Egypt before moving on to Spain. In Athens, together with Jules Goury, he studied mosque decorations in Cairo and Istanbul, documented ancient monuments along the Nile, and carried out a six-month detailed study at the Alhambra Palace in Granada. Following Goury’s death from cholera in 1834, Jones continued the research on his own and took on the responsibility of preparing their collected material for publication.

The geometric and color-based surface design principles he developed during this period took shape in his tile designs of the 1840s and in the publication Plans, Elevations, Sections and Details of the Alhambra (1842–1845). Regarded as one of the most influential works on Islamic architecture, the publication was considered a major milestone both in documenting the Alhambra and in advancing color printing techniques.

^{Facade Section of the Alhambra - Plans, Elevations, Sections and Details of the Alhambra (rawpixel)}

Architectural and Interior Applications

Among Owen Jones’s notable architectural works was St James’s Hall, completed in 1858. Located between Regent Street and Piccadilly, the building served for nearly half a century as London’s principal concert hall. Jones also carried out various interior designs for commercial and public buildings, including:

• Crystal Palace Bazaar (Oxford Street, 1858; demolished in 1905)

• F. & C. Osler glassware gallery (Oxford Street, 1859)

• The interior decorations of the Crystal Palace at Sydenham

Jones’s projects produced striking examples of vibrant polychromy and rich ornamentation, which became characteristic features of shopping venues and exhibition spaces of the period.

Among the few surviving original decorations, the ceiling ornamentation at 16 Carlton House Terrace is especially notable; today, the building is owned by the British Academy.

^{Crystal Palace (rawpixel)}

Theory and Publications

Owen Jones was among the most influential figures in 19th-century decorative art theory. He systematized his views through lectures, articles, and books, including:

• Plans, Elevations, Sections and Details of the Alhambra (1842–1845): A comprehensive publication containing detailed drawings, measurements, and color plates of the Alhambra Palace in Granada.

• The Grammar of Ornament (1856): Jones’s best-known work, which sets out the principles of ornament in 37 concise propositions. Using hundreds of examples from different periods and cultures, it defines the universal laws of ornament. While rejecting the mere copying of past results, Jones argued that principles drawn from the past should serve as a guide for contemporary design.

• Examples of Chinese Ornament (1867): A collection showcasing Chinese decorative traditions and highlighting the contributions of Eastern art to Western design.

• Views on the Nile from Cairo to the Second Cataract (1843): Based on Jones’s observations along the Nile, this work provides visual records of Egyptian monuments.

Jones’s theory emphasized that ornament preceded architecture and the other arts, that geometric structure was indispensable, and that color played a fundamental role in revealing form. These approaches became part of the foundational principles that shaped modern design education.

^{The Grammar of Ornament, Turkish Pattern (rawpixel)}

Legacy and Influence

Among his contemporaries, Owen Jones was often mentioned alongside A.W.N. Pugin and John Ruskin; however, unlike them, he opposed the direct imitation of past styles. By asserting that the principles of ornament were universal, Jones sought to lay the groundwork for a new design language suited to his age.

From the time of its publication, The Grammar of Ornament became a foundational resource for design education not only in Britain but also across Europe. For more than a century, the book was kept in the libraries of art schools as a standard reference.

Through students such as Christopher Dresser, Jones’s principles were transmitted to later generations and helped establish the foundations of national art education in Britain. Although his reputation gradually faded as much of his work was lost, his ideas on polychromy, geometric design, and nature-derived ornament strongly influenced both Victorian decoration and subsequent debates on art and style.

Death

Owen Jones died in London on 19 April 1874. With his passing, the prolific body of work he had created as one of the leading architects and designers of his time was largely dispersed. Nevertheless, his theoretical contributions have endured, most notably through The Grammar of Ornament, which continues to shape the study of decorative arts.