William Morris

William Morris[1†]

William Morris (1834–1896) was a British polymath associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. Known for his textile designs, he revitalized traditional British methods, revolutionizing Victorian taste[1†][2†]. His literary works pioneered modern fantasy and promoted socialism. His influence transcends his era, inspiring artists and designers today. The enduring popularity of the Arts and Crafts movement and his designs attest to his lasting legacy[1†][3†].

Early Years and Education

William Morris was born on March 24, 1834, in Walthamstow, England, to William Morris and Emma Morris Shelton[4†]. He was the third child of his parents, but his earlier two siblings had died in infancy, hence effectively he was the eldest child in the family[4†]. He was an extremely studious child and learned to read from a very early age[4†]. By the age of four, he was a child prodigy and had already read most of the Waverly novels[4†]. He was particularly influenced by ‘Arabian Nights’ stories and by the designs in ‘Gerard’s Herbal’[4†].

By the time he was 13 years old, his father died; he left behind a wealthy legacy[4†]. In 1848, the family relocated and soon, Morris attended Marlborough College, where he studied for three years[4†][5†]. He never showed much interest in academics here and developed a taste only for architecture[4†]. He was eventually removed from this school[4†]. He was sent to be tutored by Rev. F. B. Guy, who prepared him for Exeter College, Oxford; an institution he attended in 1852[4†]. Here, he studied theology, ecclesiastical history, medieval poetry and art, along with his friend, Edward Burne-Jones[4†][3†]. It was during his time in college that he became heavily influenced by Pre-Raphaelite paintings and he also began to write poetry[4†]. Despite his creative pursuits, he decided to become an architect[4†][3†].

Career Development and Achievements

After graduating from Exeter College, Oxford, Morris entered the Oxford office of the Gothic Revivalist architect G.E. Street[3†]. However, his interest in architecture soon shifted towards painting[3†][6†]. In 1861, Morris, along with Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones, Ford Madox Brown, and others, founded Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co., an association of “fine art workmen” based on the medieval guild[3†][6†]. This marked the beginning of his career in design and decorative arts[3†].

Morris was a versatile artist and craftsman. He was a designer of stained glass, tapestries, wallpaper, chintzes, furniture, books, and typefaces[3†][7†]. His designs significantly contributed to the revival of traditional British textile arts and methods of production[3†][7†]. His work in these areas generated the Arts and Crafts movement in England and revolutionized Victorian taste[3†][7†].

In addition to his design work, Morris was also a preservationist, socialist, poet, novelist, lecturer, calligrapher, translator of classic Icelandic and early English sagas, and founder of the Kelmscott Press[3†][7†]. His literary contributions helped to establish the modern fantasy genre[3†].

Throughout his career, Morris advocated for social equality and criticized the industrialization that characterized the Victorian era[3†]. His social activism was closely tied to his work in the arts, as he believed in the importance of creating beautiful, high-quality items that could be enjoyed by everyone[3†].

First Publication of His Main Works

William Morris was a prolific writer and artist, with his works spanning various genres and forms. Here are some of his main works:

• “The Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems” (1858): This was Morris’s first published work, which included poems that had previously appeared in the Oxford and Cambridge Magazine[3†][8†].
• “The Earthly Paradise” (1868–1870): This is a series of epic and romantic narrative poems interwoven with classical and medieval themes[3†][8†][2†].
• “A Dream of John Ball” (1888): In this work, Morris presents a vision of a past society free from the inequalities of 19th-century industrial capitalism[3†][8†][2†].
• “News from Nowhere” (1890): This is a utopian novel in which Morris imagines a future society free from systems of capitalism and private property[3†][8†][2†].
• “The Story of Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs”: This is a verse retelling of the ancient Norse sagas[3†].
• “The Life and Death of Jason”: This is a poetic narrative of the ancient Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts[3†].
• “The Well at the World’s End” (1896): This is a fantasy romance, one of the first of its kind[3†][9†][2†].

Each of these works reflects Morris’s unique blend of medievalism, romanticism, and socialism. His writings not only highlight his creative genius but also his deep-seated social and political beliefs[3†][9†][8†][2†].

Analysis and Evaluation

William Morris’s work has been widely analyzed and evaluated by critics and scholars. His strength as a poet lies in his grasp of human psychology and his inventiveness with narrative forms[10†]. The dramatic monologues of “The Defence of Guenevere, and Other Poems” are remarkable for their daring psychosexual realism[10†].

Morris’s writings reflect his unique blend of medievalism, romanticism, and socialism[10†]. His creative genius is evident in his works, but so are his deep-seated social and political beliefs[10†]. Morris believed that art and socialism cross paths at some point in time[10†][11†]. He was influenced by John Ruskin’s theories of art and society[10†][11†].

Morris’s Utopian fiction is closely related to the series of prose romances he wrote during the last dozen years of his life[10†]. It is in these works that the thematic concerns of his earlier poetry reach their final development[10†].

However, some critics argue that Morris’s vision led not so much to the Red Flag as to Matisse’s Red Studio[10†][12†]. By failing to reveal that creative brilliance, some exhibitions reduce him to a pious bore[10†][12†].

Personal Life

William Morris fell in love with Jane Burden and they got married on April 26, 1858[4†]. They had two daughters, Jane Alice (Jenny) and Mary (May), who were born in 1861 and 1862[4†][3†]. The family spent five years at the Red House, which were reportedly the happiest years of Morris’s life[4†][3†].

However, their marriage was not without complications. Jane Burden did not reciprocate Morris’s love and had an affair with his friend Dante Rossetti[4†][13†]. Despite this, the couple never separated[4†][13†].

After a serious attack of rheumatic fever, brought on by overwork, Morris moved his family to Bloomsbury in London in 1865[4†][3†].

Conclusion and Legacy

William Morris’s legacy is vast and enduring. His designs for furniture, fabrics, stained glass, wallpaper, and other decorative arts generated the Arts and Crafts movement in England and revolutionized Victorian taste[3†]. His belief that everyone should make art had a huge impact on the 20th century[3†][14†].

Morris was better known to the public as a poet, but it is his legacy as a designer that still shows today[3†][15†]. His repeated, abstracted patterns of his textile and wall prints looked forward to the visionary new order of modern design[3†][12†]. His work has influenced countless artists and designers, and his pieces are still admired and studied for their beauty, craftsmanship, and innovation[3†][16†].

Today, Morris has his own museum where the public can see his past work and understand how much his art has changed art and design[3†][15†]. His influence and the principles he championed—hand craftsmanship over mass production, the value of the beautiful over the merely functional, the need for art in everyone’s lives—continue to resonate[3†][16†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: Unknown
• Born: March 24, 1834, Walthamstow, near London, England[3†][17†][18†][6†]
• Died: October 3, 1896, Hammersmith, near London, England[3†][17†][18†][6†]
• Nationality: British[3†][17†][18†][6†]
• Occupation: Textile designer, poet, artist, writer, and socialist activist[3†][17†][18†][6†]
• Notable Works: “A Dream of John Ball”, “News from Nowhere”, “Story of Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs”, “The Defence of Guenevere”, “The Earthly Paradise”, "The Life and Death of Jason"[3†]
• Notable Achievements: Morris was a major contributor to the revival of traditional British textile arts and methods of production. His designs for furniture, fabrics, stained glass, wallpaper, and other decorative arts generated the Arts and Crafts movement in England and revolutionized Victorian taste[3†][17†][18†][6†].

References and Citations:

1. Wikipedia (English) - William Morris [website] - link
2. Tate - William Morris 1834–1896 [website] - link
3. Britannica - William Morris: British artist and author [website] - link
4. The Famous People - William Morris Biography [website] - link
5. Londontopia - William Morris and his life and London Connections [website] - link
6. Britannica - William Morris summary [website] - link
7. University of Cincinnati Libreries - William Morris - Life/Career [website] [archive] - link
8. Goodreads - Book: The Complete Works of William Morris [website] - link
9. WikiArt.org - William Morris - 18 artworks - painting [website] - link
10. eNotes - William Morris Analysis [website] - link
11. Samplius - Analysis Of William Morris’ Views And Beliefs [website] - link
12. The Guardian - Was William Morris actually just a pious bore? [website] - link
13. SunSigns - William Morris Biography, Life, Interesting Facts [website] - link
14. The Guardian - Anarchy & Beauty: William Morris and His Legacy, 1860-1960 review – the virtues of simplicity [website] - link
15. EduBirdie - William Morris: The Life and Legacy of a Great Artist [website] - link
16. Goodreads - Book: The Beauty of Life: William Morris and the Art of Design [website] - link
17. TheArtStory - William Morris Art, Bio, Ideas [website] - link
18. Kiddle Encyclopedia - William Morris Facts for Kids [website] - link