William Morris

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at the life of William Morris, a nineteenth century poet, artist, designer, and socialist reformer, noted for, among other things, his designs in stained glass. The papr relates how, in his work, Morris emphasized craftsmanship and the natural beauty of materials and that, in this regard, Morris' work was a reaction against the heavily ornate and mass-produced goods of the Victorian era.

From the Paper:

"When Morris was at Oxford, he read Ruskin's work and later embarked upon a career in the decorative arts, which was then not seen as a "suitable" occupation for a man of the upper middle classes, though Harvey states that "he must have taken heart from Ruskin's assertion that the decorative arts were serious arts, because, along with architecture, they created the visual environment in which men and women lived" (Harvey 15). Ruskin elevated images of medieval society, showed a preference for hand-crafted wares, and insisted that the artist, designer, and craftsman should be seen as one."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Crow, George H. William Morris, Designer. London: Studio, 1934.
• Harrison, Martin. "Church Decoration and Stained Glass." William Morris, 1834-1896. Provided.
• Harvey, Charles. "William Morris - Art and Idealism." History Today, Volume 46, Issue 5 (May 1996), 15.
• Lehmann, John. "Introduction." In On Art and Socialism, William Morris. London: J. Lehmann, 1947.
• Stites, Raymond S. The Arts and Man. New York: McGraw-hill Book Company, Inc, 1940.

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