WILLIAM FREND DE MORGAN - Arts and Crafts Movement

fig. 1 Portrait of William de Morgan

INTRODUCTION

In this essay we are going to discuss about famous and very important artist of the 19th century William De Morgan. In paragraph one we will mention his most celebrated work and his various talent in many fields of design. There also will be shown some images of his creations. In paragraph two we will talk more about his family background and his education. After that follows meeting of his lifelong friend William de Morris and opening of new career opportunities. Paragraph four is about his marriage and his starting career as a novelist and finally as the last is conclusion.

William De Morgan is considered as one of the most important members of the Arts and Crafts movement. He is worldwide known for his very big success in all different kinds of design. William is remembered for his multi talent in designing of the stained glass, furniture, painting but in the world of design is probably most memorised for applying of amazing Iznik and Persian designs onto tiles and ceramics.

fig. 2
Morgan, W.
Four framed tile panel














fig. 3
Morgan, W.
Persian tile








Apart of being known as a designer he was also accomplished potter, inventor and novelist. William De Morgan was born on 16th November 1839 in Chester into a very intellectual family. His father Augustus was a professor of mathematics at University College in London and his mother Sophia Elizabeth Freud was a reputable writer and also well known for her participation in politics. She was fighting for women rights and together with Elizabeth Fry promoting prison reform. William De Morgan was educated in the field of science and chemistry due to his father. This knowledge was a very useful for him when he was innovating and experimenting with different types of glazes and lustre. He is known for a few inventions but the most remembered is a gear system for bicycles. From his mother he obtained the skills for writing. William De Morgan was a very lucky to have such a supportive family which was encouraging him to pursue his desire of becoming an artist. When he was a 20 years old he started to learn with the Royal Academy Schools where he was going to progress his talent and had a chance to work together with Frederick Walker and Simeon Solomon.

In 1863 at his age 24 when he met and had been introduced to William Morris, men who was known as the founder of the arts and crafts movement and the main factory owner with furniture, he left his studies in fine art. After that decision which was influenced by William Morris his career really started. He began to work for Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co. as a designer of the stained glass. Except of designing stained glass he was also doing ceramic tiles and painted furniture for The Firm. William Morgan had a very close friendship with William Morris and they became lifelong friends. They were main figures in the Arts and Crafts Movement. The company Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co. was well known as ‘The Firm’ and had been established for two years. The Firm had a very good reputation because the only most talented artists as a Philip Webb, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones and Morris worked there. William De Morgan was working for The Firm between the years 1863 – 1872.

William de Morgan decided to build a kiln in his home at Fitzroy Square in London because he felt that he needs a more control with his work. Unfortunately during the year 1872 due to his huge enthusiasm in research he set up a fire with one of his experiment and burned the roof of his studio. After this joyless accident De Morgan moved to larger space in Chelsea which allowed him to have a showroom and some painters too. He established his own firm, which produced decorated tiles and ornamental pots. Most of his creations from that time are with animals and birds which was the most popular for him. In 1879 he was getting more and more famous and soon he began to obtain a job orders which one of them was for Lord Leighton who required creating tiles in the similar style to Islamic ones which are used in the Arab Hall at Leighton House. In 1882 the interest about his ceramics was still increasing so he had to expand his place and moved the business again, this time close to his friend William Morris at Merton Abbey. He began to concentrate on handmade tiles and ceramics which he made very colourful and decorated with images of animals, fish, mythical creatures, birds.








fig. 4
Morgan, W.
Vase in a ruby lustre












fig. 5
Morgan, W.
Ruby lustre tile
with mountain goat











fig. 6
Morgan, W. (1872)
The popular stork and frog







In 1887, William de Morgan at his age 48 married 16 years younger Evelyn Pickering who was the reputable artist influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites. Their marriage was unbelievably troublefree, they were sharing the same sense of humour and idealism. Evelyn was supporting William financially in his pottery business. In 1888 William de Morgan started to work as a potter in Fulham in cooperation with the architect Halsey Ricardo. From this period he is most known for his motives with ships which are most popular with collectors in these days. One of his galleons from 1890 was sold in London for the price of 1400 pounds.

fig. 7
Morgan, W.
Plate in Persian palate
decorated with a galleon in
sail in a choppy sea with fish










fig. 8
Morgan, W.
Galleon tile









From the year 1890, Morgan´s health problems began to occur and for that reason he and his wife decided to live in Florence each winter. In 1907 due to his all the time absence he was forced to close his business but William discovered another talent. At his age of 65 he started his career as a novelist and managed to complete 7 novels which provided him with financial security. The firs novel was called, Joseph Vance (1906) and followed the other bestsellers as Alice-For-Short (1907), Somehow Good (1908) and It Never Can Happen Again (1909). In 1917 when he was visiting his friend in France he caught trench fever and shortly after his return home he passed away. His 8th novels had been finished by his wife after his death.The collection of his drawing was placed into the Victoria and Albert Museum by his widow.

fig. 9
Portrait of his wife Evelyn
Oil on canvas

CONCLUSION

In my conclusion I would like to say that William de Morgan was unbelievably gifted men with terrific and incredibly various talents. I admire him for his enormous collection of his art work which he managed to produce during his life and also for his huge contribution to the Arts and Crafts Movement.

To me personally it is beyond my understanding what William de Morgan achieved in that period of time, when there were no facilities of modern technologies as in those days. His work is carefully processed in each detail and it is such a pleasure to browse through his art creations. If I would do new design form my bathroom I will definitely use William de Morgan’s tiles because they are absolutely marvellous. During my research about this artist I have learned a lot of new information from art history and writing of this essay was definitely beneficial to me.

Reference list:

Books:

Stirling, A. M. W. (1922) William de Morgan and His Wife. London: T. Butter Worth Limited, pp. 9 - 11

Websites:

William de MorganThe De Morgan Foundation (2010) William de Morgan [Online]. Available at:
http://www.demorgan.org.uk/de-morgans/william-de-morgan
(Accessed: 24 April 2010)

William De Morgan (no date) WCN Magazine Issue 42 William De Morgan by Tracy Martin [Online]. Available at: http://www.worldcollectorsnet.com/magazine/issue42/iss42p2.html (Accessed: 24 April 2010)

William De Morgan (no date) William De Morgan [Online].
Available at: http://www.bethrussellneedlepoint.com/demorgan.htm
(Accessed: 24 April 2010)

William Frend De Morgan: Biography and Image Gallery at ArtMagick
(no date) William Frend De Morgan [Online]. Available at:
http://www.artmagick.com/pictures/artist.aspx?artist=william-frend-de-morgan#biography (Accessed: 28 April 2010)

Images:

Fig. 1

Portrait of William de Morgan [Online]. Available at: http://www.culture24.org.uk/asset_arena/5/85/87/178585/v0_master.jpg (Accessed: 25 April 2010)

Fig. 2

Morgan, W. Four framed tile panel [Online]. Available at: http://www.worldcollectorsnet.com/magazine/issue42/iss42p2.html (Accessed: 25 April 2010)

Fig. 3

Morgan, W. Persian Tile [Online]. Available at: http://www.worldcollectorsnet.com/magazine/issue42/iss42p2.html (Accessed: 25 April 2010)

Fig. 4

Morgan, W. Vase in a ruby lustre [Online]. Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h2/h2_23.163.2ab.jpg (Accessed: 25 April 2010)

Fig. 5

Morgan, W. Ruby lustre tile with mountain goat [Online]. Available at: http://www.worldcollectorsnet.com/magazine/issue42/iss42p2.html (Accessed: 25 April 2010)

Fig. 6

Morgan, W. The popular stork and frog [Online]. Available at: http://www.bethrussellneedlepoint.com/demorgan.htm (Accessed 25 April 2010)

Fig. 7

Morgan, W. Plate in Persian palate decorated with a galleon in sail in a choppy sea with fish [Online] Available at: http://www.adantiques.com/images/eXdeMorgan/p_168a.jpg (Accessed: 25 April 2010)

Fig. 8

Morgan, W. Galleon tile [Online]. Available at: http://www.worldcollectorsnet.com/magazine/issue42/iss42p2.html (Accessed: 25 April 2010)

Fig. 9

Morgan, W. Portrait of his wife Evelyn [Online]. Available at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDg1xleubPAbbeVIXJXHxUrD8Ek7EDe3xN1PENAcD3Fg3wURYBtWoaOznFyqlZr_gKn_udJy3ibhnXyRJf74xhHQYKF6Rt3AcMOss-DzODfuYCa4oqVrMkFJitiIYJDE0F4_vOMIXuyA/s400/Mary_EDeMorgan.jpg (Accessed: 25 April 2010)