Red House and the Firm: 1859–65 William Morris

red house in bexleyheath; owned national trust , open visitors

morris desired new home himself , wife, resulting in construction of red house in kentish hamlet of upton near bexleyheath, ten miles central london. building s design co-operative effort, morris focusing on interiors , exterior being designed webb, whom house represented first commission independent architect. named after red bricks , red tiles constructed, red house rejected architectural norms being l-shaped. influenced various forms of contemporary neo-gothic architecture, house nevertheless unique, morris describing mediaeval in spirit . situated within orchard, house , garden intricately linked in design. took year construct, , cost morris £4000 @ time when fortune reduced dramatic fall in price of shares. burne-jones described beautifullest place on earth.

after construction, morris invited friends visit, notably burne-jones , wife georgiana, rossetti , wife lizzie siddal. aided him in painting murals on furniture, walls, , ceilings, of based on arthurian tales, trojan war, , geoffrey chaucer s stories, while designed floral embroideries rooms. spent time playing tricks on each other, enjoying games hide , seek, , singing while accompanied piano. siddall stayed @ house during summer , autumn 1861 recovered traumatic miscarriage , addiction laudanum; die of overdose in february 1862.

in april 1861, morris founded decorative arts company, morris, marshall, faulkner & co., 6 other partners: burne-jones, rossetti, webb, ford madox brown, charles faulkner, , peter paul marshall. operating premises @ no. 6 red lion square, referred firm , intent on adopting ruskin s ideas of reforming british attitudes production. hoped reinstate decoration 1 of fine arts , adopted ethos of affordability , anti-elitism. additional staff, employed boys industrial home destitute boys in euston, central london, many of whom trained apprentices.

although working within neo-gothic school of design, differed neo-gothic architects gilbert scott included gothic features on modern styles of building; instead sought return medieval gothic methods of craftmanship. products created firm included furniture, architectural carving, metalwork, stained glass windows, , murals. stained glass windows proved particular success in firm s years in high demand surge in neo-gothic construction , refurbishment of churches, many of commissioned architect george frederick bodley. despite morris s anti-elitist ethos, firm became increasingly popular , fashionable bourgeoisie, particularly following exhibit @ 1862 international exhibition in south kensington, received press attention , medals of commendation. however, faced opposition established design companies, particularly belonging neo-classical school.

design trellis wallpaper, 1862

morris abandoning painting, recognising work lacked sense of movement; none of paintings dated later 1862. instead focused energies on designing wallpaper patterns, first being trellis , designed in 1862. designs produced 1864 jeffrey , co. of islington, created them firm under morris s supervision. morris retained active interest in various groups, joining hogarth club, mediaeval society, , corps of artist volunteers, latter being in contrast later pacifism.

meanwhile, morris s family continued grow. in january 1861, morris , janey s first daughter born: named jane alice morris, commonly known jenny . jenny followed in march 1862 birth of second daughter, mary may morris. morris caring father daughters, , years later both recounted having idyllic childhoods. however, there problems in morris s marriage janey became increasingly close rossetti, painted her. unknown if affair ever sexual, although point other members of group noticing rossetti , janey s closeness.

imagining creation of artistic community @ upton, morris helped develop plans second house constructed adjacent red house in burne-jones live family; plans abandoned when burne-jones son philip died scarlet fever. 1864, morris had become increasingly tired of life @ red house, being particularly unhappy 3 4 hours spent commuting london workplace on daily basis. sold red house, , in autumn 1865 moved family no. 26 queen square in bloomsbury, same building firm had moved base of operations earlier in summer.