DOI Heft:
No. 16 (July, 1894)
DOI Artikel:Vallance, Aymer: The revival of tapestry-weaving: an interview with Mr. William Morris
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17190#0114
The Revival of Tapestry-Weaving
T
HE REVIVAL OF TAPESTRY- WOrk' m0St P^^y in the act of designing one of
WEAVING AN INTERVIEW th°Se exrluisite Dorders or initials for the Kelmscott
WITH MR. WILLIAM MORRIS Pr6SS; and during the conversation he scarcely
stops working, so that one feels, in spite of his
Hi
It happened, not long since, that a
gentleman from across the water applied to me
to present him to Mr. William Morris, for whom
he had conceived a most praiseworthy, if, in a
foreigner, an unusual, admiration. My friend had
set himself to learn all he could, not only from
personal acquaintance, but also from what had
been published in this country, concerning Mr.
Morris and the artistic movement of which he is
the leader. " I shall get Mr. Morris to say," he
remarked to me beforehand, " what he considers
the best account that has appeared about himself
and his work." Knowing well what the issue
must be, I warned my friend of the futility of
putting the question he proposed. I assured him
that Mr. Morris would have to confess to com-
plete ignorance on the subject; that he is a man
of absolutely single purpose, who, having a de-
finite end in view and also his own plan of attain-
ing it, is entirely unconscious of wThat may be
written about himself; that, even if he did read it,
he would not be influenced in the smallest degree
by the advice people might choose to tender him,
untouched alike by the world's praise as he is by
its censure. " But surely," urged my friend, " no
man can be so wholly indifferent to the advance-
ment of his cause as all that. He cannot help
looking eagerly for signs of his principles gaining
acceptance and his aims becoming appreciated;
and therefore he must inform himself as to what
the press says about him." " Well," I replied, " you
may regard Mr. Morris, if you please, as altogether
phenomenal, but it is indeed as I have told you."
The caution I gave was in vain, though the event
proved that I was right. The Frenchman was
struck—as who would not be ?—with his wonderful
personality who has what I have seen somewhere
described as " the finest head in England " ; he
pronounced him tres aimable (Mr. Morris had,
with his usual courtesy, shown us a number of the
valuable old MSS. and early printed books in his
collection), but still he could not conceal from me
his disappointment at having after all elicited so
little information. The truth is Mr. Morris is a tapestry panel by morris &■ co.
before all things a worker, and a very hard worker
too. And, unlike many persons who have but extreme good-nature and his willingness to oblige,
little enough grounds for self-estimation, he does quite ashamed at having to disturb him.
not care to talk much of himself or of his own " I notice, Mr. Morris, that in the book, pub-
achievements, lished in 1882, of collected addresses in suppoit
When you call you will find him absorbed in of the Society for the Protection of Ancient
III. No. 16.—July, 1894. 99
T
HE REVIVAL OF TAPESTRY- WOrk' m0St P^^y in the act of designing one of
WEAVING AN INTERVIEW th°Se exrluisite Dorders or initials for the Kelmscott
WITH MR. WILLIAM MORRIS Pr6SS; and during the conversation he scarcely
stops working, so that one feels, in spite of his
Hi
It happened, not long since, that a
gentleman from across the water applied to me
to present him to Mr. William Morris, for whom
he had conceived a most praiseworthy, if, in a
foreigner, an unusual, admiration. My friend had
set himself to learn all he could, not only from
personal acquaintance, but also from what had
been published in this country, concerning Mr.
Morris and the artistic movement of which he is
the leader. " I shall get Mr. Morris to say," he
remarked to me beforehand, " what he considers
the best account that has appeared about himself
and his work." Knowing well what the issue
must be, I warned my friend of the futility of
putting the question he proposed. I assured him
that Mr. Morris would have to confess to com-
plete ignorance on the subject; that he is a man
of absolutely single purpose, who, having a de-
finite end in view and also his own plan of attain-
ing it, is entirely unconscious of wThat may be
written about himself; that, even if he did read it,
he would not be influenced in the smallest degree
by the advice people might choose to tender him,
untouched alike by the world's praise as he is by
its censure. " But surely," urged my friend, " no
man can be so wholly indifferent to the advance-
ment of his cause as all that. He cannot help
looking eagerly for signs of his principles gaining
acceptance and his aims becoming appreciated;
and therefore he must inform himself as to what
the press says about him." " Well," I replied, " you
may regard Mr. Morris, if you please, as altogether
phenomenal, but it is indeed as I have told you."
The caution I gave was in vain, though the event
proved that I was right. The Frenchman was
struck—as who would not be ?—with his wonderful
personality who has what I have seen somewhere
described as " the finest head in England " ; he
pronounced him tres aimable (Mr. Morris had,
with his usual courtesy, shown us a number of the
valuable old MSS. and early printed books in his
collection), but still he could not conceal from me
his disappointment at having after all elicited so
little information. The truth is Mr. Morris is a tapestry panel by morris &■ co.
before all things a worker, and a very hard worker
too. And, unlike many persons who have but extreme good-nature and his willingness to oblige,
little enough grounds for self-estimation, he does quite ashamed at having to disturb him.
not care to talk much of himself or of his own " I notice, Mr. Morris, that in the book, pub-
achievements, lished in 1882, of collected addresses in suppoit
When you call you will find him absorbed in of the Society for the Protection of Ancient
III. No. 16.—July, 1894. 99