Kelmscott Manor and Iceland: 1870–75 William Morris

main entrance kelmscott manor

by 1870, morris had become public figure in britain, resulting in repeated press requests photographs, despised. year, reluctantly agreed sit portrait establishment painter george frederic watts. morris keenly interested in icelandic literature, having befriended icelandic theologian eiríkr magnússon. produced prose translations of eddas , sagas publication in english. morris developed keen interest in creating handwritten illuminated manuscripts, producing 18 such books between 1870 , 1875, first of book of verse, completed birthday present georgina burne-jones. 12 of these 18 handwritten copies of nordic tales such halfdan black, frithiof bold, , dwellers of eyr. morris deemed calligraphy art form, , taught himself both roman , italic script, learning how produce gilded letters. in november 1872 published love enough, poetic drama based on story in medieval welsh text, mabinogion. illustrated burne-jones woodcuts, not popular success. 1871, had begun work on novel set in present, novel on blue paper, love triangle; remain unfinished , morris later asserted not written.

by summer 1871, morris began search house outside london children spend time away city s pollution. settled on kelmscott manor in village of kelmscott, oxfordshire, obtaining joint tenancy on building rossetti in june. morris adored building, constructed circa 1570, , spend time in local countryside. conversely, rossetti unhappy @ kelmscott, , suffered mental breakdown. morris divided time between london , kelmscott, when rossetti there not spend more 3 days @ time @ latter. fed family home in queen square, deciding obtain new house in london. although retaining personal bedroom , study @ queen square, relocated family horrington house in turnham green road, west london, in january 1873. allowed him far closer home of burne-jones, duo meeting on every sunday morning rest of morris life.

leaving jane , children rossetti @ kelmscott, in july 1871 morris left iceland faulkner, w.h. evans, , magnússon. sailing scottish port of granton aboard danish mail boat, proceeded island via tórshavn in faroe islands before arriving @ reykjavik, disembarked. there met president of althing, jón sigurðsson, morris being sympathetic icelandic independence movement. there, proceeded icelandic horse along south coast bergþórshvoll, thórsmörk, geysir, Þingvellir, , reyjkavik, departed britain in september. in april 1873, morris , burne-jones holidayed in italy, visiting florence , siena. although disliking country, morris interested in florentine gothic architecture. after, in july, morris returned iceland, revisiting many of sites had seen, proceeding north varna glacier , fljótsdalur. 2 visits country profoundly influenced him, in particular in growing leftist opinions; comment these trips made him realise grinding poverty trifling evil compared inequality of classes.

morris , burne-jones spent time 1 of firm s patrons, wealthy george howard, 9th earl of carlisle , wife rosalind, @ medieval home in naworth castle, cumberland. in july 1874, morris family took burne-jones 2 children them on holiday bruges, belgium. however, point morris friendship rossetti had eroded, , in july 1874 acrimonious falling out led rossetti leave kelmscott, morris publisher f.s. ellis taking place. company s other partners drifting off work on other projects, morris decided consolidate own control of firm , become sole proprietor , manager. in march 1875, paid £1000 each in compensation rossetti, brown, , marshall, although other partners waived claims financial compensation. month, firm officially disbanded , replaced morris & co, although burne-jones , webb continue produce designs in future. accomplished, resigned directorship of devon great consols, selling remaining shares in company.