William Morris
William Morris Research Paper
William Morris was a poet, artist, manufacturer, and socialist during the mid to late 19th century. He was most active as a wallpaper and textile designer and later in his life a graphic designer. Morris was born March of 1834 in Walthamstow, which was near to London. He lived with his wealthy family near London and learned to read at a young age. He later attended Oxford where he met is friend, Edward Burne-Jones, who would later become one of the greatest Pre-Raphaelite artists. Morris started at Oxford thinking of becoming a clergyman, but soon joined an aesthetic circle. Morris had a great interest in medieval art and architecture, because it was art that was made by people and for people with great skill and craft instead of art that was made by mass production. After graduating and inheriting his father’s money, Morris started working as an architect. After a few years, Edward Burne-Jones influenced him to become an artist instead. Morris started as a poet and painter, but later in his life became more interested in politics, tapestries, graphic design, and textile designs.
“The Arts and Crafts movement evolved as a revolt against the new age of mechanization, a Romantic effort on part of Morris and others to implement the philosophy of the influential critic John Ruskin, who stated that true art should be both beautiful and useful and should base its forms on those found in nature.” Morris and others fought to return to the simplicity, beauty, and craftsmanship that were being destroyed by the process of mass production. He also became more active as a socialist, and had many writings and leadership roles involving this.
La Belle Iseult was the only known and finished easel painting made by Morris. It was made in 1858 and shows his model, Jane Burden, who became his wife in 1859. Jane is modeling as Iseult standing in front of an unmade bed in a medieval room. The painting shows many rich colors, and
William Morris was a poet, artist, manufacturer, and socialist during the mid to late 19th century. He was most active as a wallpaper and textile designer and later in his life a graphic designer. Morris was born March of 1834 in Walthamstow, which was near to London. He lived with his wealthy family near London and learned to read at a young age. He later attended Oxford where he met is friend, Edward Burne-Jones, who would later become one of the greatest Pre-Raphaelite artists. Morris started at Oxford thinking of becoming a clergyman, but soon joined an aesthetic circle. Morris had a great interest in medieval art and architecture, because it was art that was made by people and for people with great skill and craft instead of art that was made by mass production. After graduating and inheriting his father’s money, Morris started working as an architect. After a few years, Edward Burne-Jones influenced him to become an artist instead. Morris started as a poet and painter, but later in his life became more interested in politics, tapestries, graphic design, and textile designs.
“The Arts and Crafts movement evolved as a revolt against the new age of mechanization, a Romantic effort on part of Morris and others to implement the philosophy of the influential critic John Ruskin, who stated that true art should be both beautiful and useful and should base its forms on those found in nature.” Morris and others fought to return to the simplicity, beauty, and craftsmanship that were being destroyed by the process of mass production. He also became more active as a socialist, and had many writings and leadership roles involving this.
La Belle Iseult was the only known and finished easel painting made by Morris. It was made in 1858 and shows his model, Jane Burden, who became his wife in 1859. Jane is modeling as Iseult standing in front of an unmade bed in a medieval room. The painting shows many rich colors, and
Bibliography: Arnason, H. H. History of Modern Art: Painting Sculpture Architecture Photography. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003. Print Chu, Petra ten-Doesschate Cody, David. "William Morris: A Brief Biography." The Victorian Web. N.p., 17 Oct. 2012. Web. Nov. 2012. <http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/morris/wmbio.html>. Fowle, Frances. "La Belle Iseult." TATE. N.p., Dec. 2000. Web. Nov. 2012. <http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/morris-la-belle-iseult-n04999/text-summary>. Mackail, John WIlliam. “William Morris.” The Dictionary of National Biography. Supp. vol. 3. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1901. 197--‐203. Print. Marsh, Jan. "William Morris 's Painting and Drawing." JSTOR. The Burlington Magazine Publications Ltd., 1986. Web. Nov. 2012. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/882655>. Whipple, David. "Textile Designs and Books by William Morris." JSTOR. Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Web. Nov. 2012. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/25159593>. "William Morris & Wallpaper Design." Victoria and Albert Museum. Victoria and Albert Museum, 2012. Web. Nov. 2012. <http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/w/william-morris-and-wallpaper- design/>. Medium: Oil Paint on Canvas Size: Support: 718 x 502 mm, Frame: 960 x755 x 61 mm Source: Tate Britain (http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/morris-la-belle-iseult-n04999) Title: Strawberry Thief Date: 1883 [ 1 ]. Mackail, John WIlliam. “William Morris.” The Dictionary of National Biography. Supp. vol. 3. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1901. 197--‐203. [ 2 ]. Chu, Petra ten-Doesschate. Nineteenth-Century European Art. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd, 2012. [ 3 ]. Cody, David. "William Morris: A Brief Biography." The Victorian Web. N.p., 17 Oct. 2012. Web. Nov. 2012. . [ 4 ]. Arnason, H. H. History of Modern Art: Painting Sculpture Architecture Photography. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003. [ 5 ]. Marsh, Jan. "William Morris 's Painting and Drawing." JSTOR. The Burlington Magazine Publications Ltd., 1986. Web. Nov. 2012. . [ 6 ]. Fowle, Frances. "La Belle Iseult." TATE. N.p., Dec. 2000. Web. Nov. 2012. . [ 14 ]. Whipple, David. "Textile Designs and Books by William Morris." JSTOR. Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Web. Nov. 2012. . [ 18 ]. "William Morris & Wallpaper Design." Victoria and Albert Museum. Victoria and Albert Museum, 2012. Web. Nov. 2012. .