A Talk by Brian Growthorpe on 13th November 2024
Many of us are familiar with the name William Morris and perhaps associate it with the Strawberry Thief pattern popularised in soft furnishings. How many more facets to William Morris’ character were revealed to us at our November Talk by Brian Gowthorpe. William Morris (1834 – 1896) was an English designer, craftsman, poet, and early socialist, whose designs for furniture, fabrics, stained glass, wallpaper and other decorative arts were crucial in igniting the Arts and Crafts Movement and revolutionised Victorian taste.
Brian first described the influential events and ideas in society in the century before Morris’s birth, including The Enlightenment, The French Revolution, the Enclosure Acts and the Industrial Revolution. Country people moved to industrial jobs in the towns and there were major changes in land ownership. Throughout Morris’s life towns and cities expanded enormously with a population explosion that was deeply unsettling for Victorian society.
Morris was born of a wealthy background and enjoyed opportunities to develop his interest in the Arts and his love of the countryside. He had many enthusiasms and was thrilled by new ideas, particularly the revival of medieval art and architecture. He was appalled at the urbanisation and growth of London and the impact of the railways, causing the destruction or radical alteration of many historic buildings of great beauty because they were not seen to be of value in a changing society. This led to him to found the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. He was opposed to mass market production and filled his own homes with murals and painted furniture based on Arthurian Legends and Chaucer.
His friendship with Edward Burne-Jones, who he met at Oxford, and with whom he first set up a creative studio was immensely important. His many other friendships were essential to his personal and professional life. He worked on joint artistic projects and founded a decorative arts company in 1861. From 1877 he started to achieve huge financial success from his store in Oxford Street. Alongside this he had developed his political interests. He was aware of the living conditions of those less fortunate than him and was a key figure in support of socialism.
Underlying all Morris’ work was the importance of acknowledging and valuing our cultural heritage rather than destroying it as fashions change. He saw traditional craftsmanship as an essential part of this. His use of images from medieval designs and nature emphasized his appreciation of the deep connection between culture, nature and art. His philosophy can be summed up by his quotation: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful”.
William Morris was a true polymath and his contribution to society, whether designing for the aristocracy or campaigning for the rights of the working classes, continues to be recognised today.
SYG 15.11.24