Decorative art

DEFINITION

A term for applied art, meaning it is created with the purpose of embellishing a useful object such as a vase or architectural column. Decorative Art can also exist by itself as pure ornamentation. Decorative artists include ceramist R. Guy Cowan; architectural decorator Rene Paul Chambellan, and ornamental painter John Ritto Penniman. Sources: Ralph Mayer, "A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques"; Kimberley Reynolds and Richard Seddon, "Illustrated Dictionary of Art Terms"; AskART database