Tapestries: The Life and Work of William Morris

William Morris is a of the most prolific textile designers from Britain with a talent in every area he managed to influence. A multi skilled designer with an appreciation beautiful things, developed a design portfolio that encompasses many genres in the applied arts. Early Morris William Morris was born in 1834 in Walthamstow, Essex. He studied at Exeter College, Oxford, where he met Edward Burne-Jones, who later became his partner and lifelong friend. Initial plans to study Holy Orders were abandoned in favor of becoming and architect. With a creative mind Morris soon tired of this and joined his friend Burne-Jones to paint. Art Forte became Morris and develop talent in print, poetry and learn to knit. Its upholstery is undoubtedly his finest creation. Acanthus and Vine was Morris first tapestry, completed in 1879.

The Arts and Crafts Movement of the 1860s saw the transformation of the applied arts when Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and the company was formed. This brought together some of the foremost artists of the time as William Morris, Peter Paul Marshall and Charles Faulkner began the movement Arts & Crafts together with Edward Burne-Jones and Ford Madox Brown. The tapestries and wall hangings created by Morris remain influential in the design world today. Morris said, "All you have in your room, think first of the walls, because they are what makes your home and the home. "The company became known as Morris & Co in 1874. William Morris Tapestries Burne-Jones and Morris worked in some of the best fabrics to leave the movement Arts and Crafts. Morris wove the tapestry that Burne-Jones designed.

One of the most popular tapestries is the quest for the Holy Grail, now on display at the Museum Birmingham and is a set of six tapestries depicting this famous legend. The Adoration of the Magi is perhaps best known Morris religious tapestry, and the most complex. That represents the Nativity scene, the foreground is dotted with British flowers and Morris said that "nothing better for this type has never been done, old or new. "The Carpenter is one of the few birds designed by Morris himself and submitted to the meeting in the branches of a fruit tree surrounded by an ornate background of leaves, which came to typify the Morris design. An embroidered inscription of poetry Morris's own was included in the design of the fabric. The use of color and intricate details can be seen in The Tree of Life, a well known Morris design, which also serves to show his experience in patterns.

A timeless appeal

Morris once said: "Have nothing in your houses that you know is useful or believe to be beautiful. "One of the most prolific artists of the nineteenth century, his works are seen today in modern homes and is a testimony to the fact that true beauty is timeless.

Copyright © The Tapestry House, all rights reserved.

This article is freely reprint Tapestry House. Our terms are: Please leave intact Copyright Statement Please publish copyright information, including links Please do not use the article in post unsolicited electronic Please keep all links intact and "as is" – no embedded keyword advertising

About the Author

Angela Dawson-Field has written various articles for The Tapestry House. Her favourite subjects include Medieval and Religious Tapestry art.

The Art of Stanley Kubrick