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 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.

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

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

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

William Morris --- Oxford Years

A creator & contributor of Oxford and Cambridge Magazine Published Defense of Guenevere and Other Poems in 1958

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, BurneJones, Webb) founded Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co.

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

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

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

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

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

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)

The Golden Legend

The Kelmscott Chaucer

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

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

The Kelmscott Chaucer

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