of the flora, combined with an imaginary rendering of the fauna, of the surrounding country. Arabian ornament has for its foundation various combinations of geometrical figures, hence the name arabesque. Human figures and animal forms were forbidden by their religion.
The roman style is more floriated, and finds expression frequently in a centra or culminating point, encircled by foilage, garlands, festoons, and arabesques.
In addition to the general or national charactereistics, decoration has distinctive features not to be ignored.
Different epochs produces different styles or ornament ; and to mix these up in a haphazard fashion betrays limited information on this subject, besides being meaningless and inartistic. That a person does not know any better is neither a good reason nor exuse for vilolating the sensibilities of those who do.
An extravagant use of scrolls and insiginificant curves, and lines running criss-cross and in every conceivable direction, is not ornament ; for ornament demands repose and symmetry. But a conglomeration of lines, curves diapers, dots, lattice-work, and what not, mingling in hopless confusion, is an excess of even the worst style of rococo ornament, and is not art.
