Oxford and the Birmingham Set: 1852–56 William Morris

william morris self-portrait, 1856; morris grew beard year, after leaving university.

morris heavily influenced writings of art critic john ruskin, being particularly inspired chapter on nature of gothic architecture in second volume of stones of venice; later described 1 of few necessary , inevitable utterances of century . morris adopted ruskin s philosophy of rejecting tawdry industrial manufacture of decorative arts , architecture in favour of return hand-craftsmanship, raising artisans status of artists, creating art should affordable , hand-made, no hierarchy of artistic mediums. ruskin had achieved attention in victorian society championing art of group of painters had emerged in london in 1848 calling pre-raphaelite brotherhood. pre-raphaelite style heavily medievalist , romanticist, emphasising abundant detail, intense colours , complex compositions; impressed morris , set. influenced both ruskin , john keats, morris began spend more time writing poetry, in style imitative of of theirs.

both , burne-jones influenced romanticist milieu , anglo-catholic movement, , decided become clergymen in order found monastery live life of chastity , dedication artistic pursuit, akin of contemporary nazarene movement. however, time went on morris became increasingly critical of anglican doctrine , idea faded. in summer 1854, morris travelled belgium @ medieval paintings, , in july 1855 went burne-jones , fulford across northern france, visiting medieval churches , cathedrals. on trip , burne-jones committed life of art . morris, decision resulted in strained relationship family, believed should have entered either commerce or clergy. on subsequent visit birmingham, morris discovered thomas malory s le morte d arthur, became core arthurian text him , burne-jones. in january 1856, set began publication of oxford , cambridge magazine, designed contain tales, poetry, friendly critiques , social articles . funded morris, briefly served editor , heavily contributed own stories, poems, reviews , articles, magazine lasted twelve issues, , garnered praise tennyson , ruskin.