DESIGN

(Fr.de in.) In'all the Arts, the idea formed in the mind of an artist on any particular subject, which he endeavours to transfer to some medium for the purpose of making it known to others. It is sometimes loosely and improperly used synonymously with drawing. Every work of design is to be considered either in relation to the art that produced it, to the nature of its adaptation to the end sought, or to the nature of the end it is destined to serve; thus its beauty is dependent on the wisdom or excellence displayed in the design, on the fitne or propriety of the adaptation, and upon the utility of the end. The considerations of design, fitne , and utility, have become the three great sources of beauty of form. This beauty frequently arises from the combined power of these expre ions. Every work of art supposes unity of design, or some particular end proposed by the artist in its structure or composition. In forms considered simply as expre ive of design, the only po ible sign of unity of design is uniformity or regularity, by which the productions of chance are distinguished from those of design; and without the appearance of this, variety becomes confusion. In every beautiful work of art, we are not satisfied with mere design, — we must have elegant design, of which the grand feature is variety; it is this which in general distinguishes beautiful from plain forms, and without it uniformity is dull and insipid. The arts of design are usually considered those of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture; to which, under their several heads, the reader is referred for further information. [s. 343]