Defining beauty in art as the result of man's pleasure in his work, the noted English poet, designer, craftsman and pioneer Socialist William Morris (1834–1896) spent most of his life enthusiastically expounding this view through his many attractive designs for interior furnishings.
The present book faithfully reproduces 40 of the most celebrated examples of Morris's work, reprinting in full color all the color plates from The Art of William Morris, published by George Bell & Sons in 1897. Included in this splendid, ready-to-use archive are richly detailed wallpaper designs incorporating marigold, vine, acanthus, apple, wild tulip, daisy and trellis motifs; hand-painted tiles with a rose pattern; chintzes displaying honeysuckle and bird and anemone designs; an acanthus design on printed velveteen; a superb peacock and dragon design on woven wool tapestry; a magnificent Kidderminster carpet with its lily motif.
Originally intended to decorate Victorian homes, these tasteful patterns provide a wealth of source material for modern artists working in advertising, textile, residential or industrial design. Commercial artists and graphic designers will welcome this modestly priced collection of copyright-free designs by one of the most influential artists of the Victorian period.