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William Morris

William Morris. The Kelmscott Chaucer & The Golden Legend. Pre-Raphaelite Art. Characterized by naturalism (love of nature), wealth of detail, deliberate medievalism (choice of subject), morbidity/ melancholy subjects, & ornamental/ decorative function

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William Morris

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  1. William Morris The Kelmscott Chaucer & The Golden Legend

  2. Pre-Raphaelite Art • Characterized by naturalism (love of nature), wealth of detail, deliberate medievalism (choice of subject), morbidity/ melancholy subjects, & ornamental/ decorative function • “A definite, harmonious, conscious, beauty… It ought to be possible for a painting to be a part of a beautiful whole in a room or church or hall.”

  3. William Morris (1834-1896) • Poet, artist, printer, typographer, decorator, Socialist--- a man of many talents • Morris always had an affinity for nature, a vital component to pre-Raphaelite art

  4. William Morris (1834-1896) • Attended Marlborough School and Exter College at Oxford • Worked with Dante Rosetti and Burne-Jones, among others, creating art in 19th century England • Formed the “Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood” or PRB

  5. William Morris --- Oxford Years • Brotherhood was greatly influenced by the writing of John Ruskin • Like Ruskin, Morris believed in Antimodernism • Believed only great art came before 16th century, looked to earlier times for inspiration • Saw Modernist thinkers as “servants to the industrial age”

  6. William Morris --- Oxford Years • A creator & contributor of Oxford and Cambridge Magazine • Published “Defense of Guenevere and Other Poems” in 1958

  7. William Morris --- Career Move • When Victorian Architect Philip Webb constructed The Red House in Bexley, he was unable to find any furniture to his liking • As result, Morris and friends (Rossetti, Burne-Jones, Webb) founded Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co.

  8. William Morris --- Career Move • M, M, & F created furniture, tapestries, wallpaper, stained glass, and other interior decorative elements • This company sparked Morris’ interest in architecture and established his career in the field • Would later found The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in 1877

  9. William Morris --- Typographer? • Towards the end of his life, Morris became involved in printmaking and book design • Uncertain as to why exactly he took an interest in this field but Morris was thought to have been inspired by a printing lecture given by Emery Walker

  10. William Morris --- Typographer • Founded the Kelmscott Press in spring of 1891, a privately owned printing press dedicated to printing the “ideal book” • Came up with several revolutionary typefaces which he used to print his books --- Golden Roman, Gothic Troy, & Chaucer typfaces

  11. William Morris --- Typographer? • Believed books should be readable and beautiful • To do so, used an iron handpress, unbleachced handmade paper, high-quality vellum, and bindings from Henry Band

  12. William Morris’ Great Works • Printed work characterized by darker, more massive typefaces, less spacing between words and lines, complementary illustrations, ornaments, borders, and initials • Elements can be seen in both The Golden Legend and Chaucer

  13. The Golden Legend • Printed at Kelmscott Press in 1892, The Golden Legend was the 7th book Morris printed • 13th manuscript about the lives of saints • Was supposed to be the 1st book published at Kelmscott (named after the typeface Golden) but was actually the 7th • The Golden Legend is a display of the Golden typeface and includes ornamental borders (Morris) and wood-cut illustrations (Burne-Jones)

  14. The Golden Legend

  15. The Kelmscott Chaucer • “Widely regarded as the greatest fine press book ever produced, particularly in its text-on-vellum incarnation.” • Morris’ print of The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer somewhat resembles what Morris had in mind when he strived to create the “ideal book”

  16. The Kelmscott Chaucer • Book includes illustrations, ornamentation, and the Chaucer typeface, appropriately named after the book itself • Produced in 1891 • Morris died in late 1896, just a few months after Burne-Jones completed the illustrations and finished the book

  17. The Kelmscott Chaucer

  18. The Legacy of William Morris • William Morris and His Circle is an exhibit at the Harry Ransom Center on The University of Texas campus • The exhibit contains over 75 pieces --- Morris’ manuscripts and other Kelmscott Press publications • The exhibit also displays the work of other PRB members like Rosetti and Burne-Jones

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