William Morris was one of the pioneers behind the Arts & Crafts movement, and his influence is still prevalent today. Most-known for his intricate botanical designs, Morris was also an artist, poet, social activist and a self-taught craftsman. Let's take a closer look at his life and legacy.
William Morris was born on 24 March 1834 in Walthamstow, Essex to middle-class parents. Growing up in the countryside, he became interested in nature, which is where it all began. Morris also showed a natural ability in reading and writing from a young age, foreshadowing his later career in the arts.
In 1853, he attended Exeter College in Oxford to study theology, where he met Edward Burne-Jones. The two became close friends over their shared beliefs in the Church, frequently attending services together. Influenced by the writings of critics such as John Ruskin, Morris veered away from a religious career and showed an increasing interest in art and design, deciding to briefly study architecture. In 1856, Morris moved into 17 Red Lion Square with Burne-Jones after a recommendation from Dante Gabriel Rosetti. The flat was unfurnished which led Morris to design and commission medieval-style furniture for the space.
G F Watts, Portrait of William Morris, 1870, oil in canvas
G F Watts, Portrait of Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898), 1870, oil on canvas
In 1857, Morris met Jane Burden, a frequent model and muse for the Pre-Raphaelite painters. The couple married in 1859, then had two daughters. Jane Alice "Jenny" Morris was born on 17 January 1861 and Mary "May" Morris was born on 25 March 1862.
H Smith, Jane and Jenny Morris, c.1864, photograph
Unknown photographer, Jane Morris holding May Morris, c.1863, photograph
To house his new family, he commissioned the architect Philip Webb to build Red House in Bexleyheath. Finding the period’s mass-produced furniture "spiritless," Morris and his friends hand-decorated the entire home. This led to the 1861 founding of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. (later Morris & Co.) - a decorative arts firm founded by Morris, along with Dante Gabriel Rosetti, Ford Madox Brown, Edward Burne-Jones, Charles Faulkner, P.P. Marshall and Philip Webb. The company was dedicated to reviving traditional handicraft techniques, producing high-quality and beautiful items for the home, which had been lost through the Industrial Revolution.
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. - William Morris
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.
- William Morris
The company produced furniture, stained glass, handprinted wallpapers, tapestry and embroidery. Morris famously mastered ancient vegetable dyeing techniques and woodblock printing to create iconic patterns like Willow Bough and Strawberry Thief. By the 1870s, William Morris was a household name. In 1875, he assumed total control of the company, which was rebranded as Morris & Co.
Morris's deep interest in decorative arts also extended to book design and bookmaking, and following a lecture on book design from his friend Emery Walker, he was inspired to collaborate with him to revive the art of medieval bookbinding. The Kelmscott Press was subsequently founded in 1891, and the company aimed to replicate the style of medieval printing using predominantly hand printing methods. Each book was designed by Morris, and many of the illustrations were by Edward Burne-Jones. His "Kelmscott Chaucer" is still considered one of the most beautiful books ever printed.
Kelmscott Press logotype
Throughout his life, William Morris rejected the industrialisation and social values of the Victorian period, resulting in him joining the socialist movement. He spent his later years crossing the UK to deliver lectures on socialist ideologies, in hopes that the movement would gain more traction. One notable lecture was in 1883 when he was invited to speak about "Democracy and Art" at University College, Oxford. During the talk, his remarks promoting socialism left the faculty shocked and gaining himself attention from the press. He died in 1896, leaving behind a legacy that formed the backbone of the Arts and Crafts Movement - a philosophy that still influences how we view sustainable design and value handmade and handcrafted items today.