diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas/fill.h b/libs/canvas/canvas/fill.h
index a4a36eb345..9eddeec6b6 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas/fill.h
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas/fill.h
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ public:
 	
         void set_gradient (StopList const & stops, bool is_vertical);
 
+        void set_pattern (Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Pattern>);
+
 protected:
 	void setup_fill_context (Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Context>) const;
         void setup_gradient_context (Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Context>, Rect const &, Duple const &) const;
@@ -63,6 +65,8 @@ protected:
 	bool _transparent;
         StopList _stops;
         bool _vertical_gradient;
+        Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Pattern> _pattern;
+
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/libs/canvas/fill.cc b/libs/canvas/fill.cc
index 42bcbfff3c..9c93523e51 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/fill.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/fill.cc
@@ -72,7 +72,11 @@ Fill::set_fill (bool fill)
 void
 Fill::setup_fill_context (Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Context> context) const
 {
-	set_source_rgba (context, _fill_color);
+        if (_pattern) {
+                context->set_source (_pattern);
+        } else {
+                set_source_rgba (context, _fill_color);
+        }
 }
 
 void
@@ -95,6 +99,12 @@ Fill::setup_gradient_context (Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Context> context, Rect const
 	context->set_source (_gradient);
 }
 
+void
+Fill::set_pattern (Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Pattern> p)
+{
+        _pattern = p;
+}
+
 void
 Fill::set_gradient (StopList const & stops, bool vertical)
 {