William MorrisWilliam Morris

The KelmscottThe Kelmscott Chaucer Chaucer & &

The Golden LegendThe Golden Legend

Pre-Raphaelite ArtPre-Raphaelite Art

Characterized by Characterized by naturalism naturalism (love of (love of nature), nature), wealth of detail, deliberate wealth of detail, deliberate medievalism medievalism (choice of subject), (choice of subject), morbidity/ melancholy subjects, morbidity/ melancholy subjects, & & ornamental/ decorative functionornamental/ decorative function

““A definite, harmonious, conscious, A definite, harmonious, conscious, beauty… It ought to be possible for a beauty… It ought to be possible for a painting to be a part of a beautiful painting to be a part of a beautiful whole in a room or church or hall.”whole in a room or church or hall.”

William Morris William Morris (1834-1896)(1834-1896)

Poet, artist, printer, typographer, Poet, artist, printer, typographer, decorator, Socialist--- a man of many decorator, Socialist--- a man of many talentstalents

Morris always had an affinity for Morris always had an affinity for nature, a vital component to pre-nature, a vital component to pre-Raphaelite artRaphaelite art

William Morris William Morris (1834-1896)(1834-1896)

Attended Marlborough School and Attended Marlborough School and Exter College at OxfordExter College at Oxford

Worked with Dante Rosetti and Worked with Dante Rosetti and Burne-Jones, among others, creating Burne-Jones, among others, creating art in 19art in 19thth century England century England

Formed the “Pre-Raphaelite Formed the “Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood” or PRBBrotherhood” or PRB

William Morris --- Oxford YearsWilliam Morris --- Oxford Years

Brotherhood was greatly influenced Brotherhood was greatly influenced by the writing of John Ruskinby the writing of John Ruskin

Like Ruskin, Morris believed in Like Ruskin, Morris believed in AntimodernismAntimodernism

Believed only great art came before Believed only great art came before 1616thth century, looked to earlier times century, looked to earlier times for inspirationfor inspiration

Saw Modernist thinkers as “servants Saw Modernist thinkers as “servants to the industrial age”to the industrial age”

William Morris --- Oxford YearsWilliam Morris --- Oxford Years

A creator & contributor of A creator & contributor of Oxford Oxford and Cambridge Magazineand Cambridge Magazine

Published “Defense of Guenevere Published “Defense of Guenevere and Other Poems” in 1958and Other Poems” in 1958

William Morris --- Career MoveWilliam Morris --- Career Move

When Victorian Architect Philip When Victorian Architect Philip Webb constructed Webb constructed The Red HouseThe Red House in in Bexley, he was unable to find any Bexley, he was unable to find any furniture to his likingfurniture to his liking

As result, Morris and friends As result, Morris and friends (Rossetti, Burne-Jones, Webb) (Rossetti, Burne-Jones, Webb) founded Morris, Marshall, Faulkner founded Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. & Co.

William Morris --- Career MoveWilliam Morris --- Career Move

M, M, & F created furniture, M, M, & F created furniture, tapestries, wallpaper, stained glass, tapestries, wallpaper, stained glass, and other interior decorative and other interior decorative elementselements

This company sparked Morris’ This company sparked Morris’ interest in architecture and interest in architecture and established his career in the fieldestablished his career in the field

Would later found The Society for Would later found The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings the Protection of Ancient Buildings in 1877in 1877

William Morris --- Typographer?William Morris --- Typographer?

Towards the end of his life, Morris Towards the end of his life, Morris became involved in printmaking and became involved in printmaking and book designbook design

Uncertain as to why exactly he took Uncertain as to why exactly he took an interest in this field but Morris an interest in this field but Morris was thought to have been inspired was thought to have been inspired by a printing lecture given by Emery by a printing lecture given by Emery Walker Walker

William Morris --- TypographerWilliam Morris --- Typographer

Founded the Kelmscott Press in Founded the Kelmscott Press in spring of 1891, a privately owned spring of 1891, a privately owned printing press dedicated to printing printing press dedicated to printing the “ideal book”the “ideal book”

Came up with several revolutionary Came up with several revolutionary typefaces which he used to print his typefaces which he used to print his books --- books --- Golden RomanGolden Roman, , Gothic Gothic Troy, Troy, & & Chaucer Chaucer typfacestypfaces

William Morris --- Typographer?William Morris --- Typographer?

Believed books should be readable Believed books should be readable and and beautifulbeautiful

To do so, used an iron handpress, To do so, used an iron handpress, unbleachced handmade paper, high-unbleachced handmade paper, high-quality vellum, and bindings from quality vellum, and bindings from Henry BandHenry Band

William Morris’ Great WorksWilliam Morris’ Great Works

Printed work characterized by Printed work characterized by darker, more massive typefaces, less darker, more massive typefaces, less spacing between words and lines, spacing between words and lines, complementary illustrations, complementary illustrations, ornaments, borders, and initialsornaments, borders, and initials

Elements can be seen in both Elements can be seen in both The The Golden LegendGolden Legend and and ChaucerChaucer

The Golden LegendThe Golden Legend

Printed at Kelmscott Press in 1892, Printed at Kelmscott Press in 1892, The The Golden LegendGolden Legend was the 7 was the 7thth book Morris book Morris printedprinted

1313thth manuscript about the lives of saints manuscript about the lives of saints Was supposed to be the 1Was supposed to be the 1stst book published book published

at Kelmscott (named after the typeface at Kelmscott (named after the typeface GoldenGolden) but was actually the 7) but was actually the 7thth

The Golden LegendThe Golden Legend is a display of the is a display of the Golden Golden typeface and includes ornamental typeface and includes ornamental borders (Morris) and wood-cut borders (Morris) and wood-cut illustrations (Burne-Jones)illustrations (Burne-Jones)

The Golden LegendThe Golden Legend

The Kelmscott The Kelmscott ChaucerChaucer

““Widely regarded as the greatest Widely regarded as the greatest fine press book ever produced, fine press book ever produced, particularly in its text-on-vellum particularly in its text-on-vellum incarnation.”incarnation.”

Morris’ print of Morris’ print of The Works of The Works of Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer somewhat somewhat resembles what Morris had in mind resembles what Morris had in mind when he strived to create the “ideal when he strived to create the “ideal book”book”

The Kelmscott The Kelmscott ChaucerChaucer

Book includes illustrations, Book includes illustrations, ornamentation, and the ornamentation, and the Chaucer Chaucer typeface, appropriately named after typeface, appropriately named after the book itselfthe book itself

Produced in 1891Produced in 1891Morris died in late 1896, just a few Morris died in late 1896, just a few

months after Burne-Jones completed months after Burne-Jones completed the illustrations and finished the the illustrations and finished the bookbook

The Kelmscott The Kelmscott ChaucerChaucer

The Legacy of William MorrisThe Legacy of William Morris

William Morris and His CircleWilliam Morris and His Circle is an is an exhibit at the Harry Ransom Center exhibit at the Harry Ransom Center on The University of Texas campuson The University of Texas campus

The exhibit contains over 75 pieces The exhibit contains over 75 pieces --- Morris’ manuscripts and other --- Morris’ manuscripts and other Kelmscott Press publicationsKelmscott Press publications

The exhibit also displays the work of The exhibit also displays the work of other PRB members like Rosetti and other PRB members like Rosetti and Burne-JonesBurne-Jones