The Rosette
No. 240. Italian Renaissance Scroll, shewing Acanthus husks with bracts, sheath leaves and floral terminals.
No. 241. Types of Rosettes.
Such flowers as were employed in the earlier ornament displayed little regard to nature, being mostly of the rosette form with petals radiating from the centre; as a rule these were composed of simple leaf-shaped petals in one, two or more tiers arranged concentrically; in this form of rosette the petals are symmetrical in shape. The number of petals is a matter of scale and taste, but an unequal number will invariably be found more interesting. Arrangements of five or seven in preference to four, six and eight. Frequently the spaces between the outer tier are occupied by narrow leaves suggestive of the sepals in natural flowers, and these serve the double purpose of giving variety and preserving the circular shape.
Further variety can be imparted by the arrangements of the petals on a revolving instead of a straight axis, either consistently in one direction or symmetrically disposed from a centre in a palmate form.
The Rosette in ornament is useful as a pause point, giving repose, but where it is desirable to continue the flow of line, other floral forms can be employed, such as the tulip or the lily, which are displayed to the best advantage in profile or perspective.
In conventional ornament the flower petals should be in contrast to the leaves employed on the scrolling stem.
The Pistil in nature is reflected in the various sprouting forms which emerge from the conventional flowers of the Renaissance, and at times develop into further stem growth. On æsthetic grounds this may be excused in cases where flow of line is of greater importance than consistency. The Pistil takes many forms, being frequently composed of a series of diminutive husks. Flower buds of similar husk form occur, the petals being similar to those of the flowers employed.