Red House, William Morris and his 'Palace of Art'

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A virtual talk by Tessa Wild presented by The Emery Walker Trust

The house reflects William Morris’ taste for medievalism

The next virtual talk from Emery Walker’s House will be an escape to the creative idyll of Red House, the result of a collaboration of creative friends fulfilling their Utopian dream of designing and making the House Beautiful for William and Jane Morris.

Tessa Wild, author of William Morris and his Palace of Art and former curator of a portfolio of artists and writers’ houses, including Red House, will give a talk on the Morris’ home in Bexleyheath which was designed and decorated with the help of a group of artistic friends and described by Dante Gabriel Rossetti as “…more of a poem than a house”.

“The best way to think about Red House is the art of the possible with lots of youthful exuberance and high spirits,” explains Tessa.

It was, she continues, “a place of great artistic collaboration – both amateur and professional - with Georgiana and Edward Burne-Jones, Philip Webb, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Lizzie Siddal and others contributing to the decoration whilst spending time staying with William and Janie Morris.

Ned Burne-Jones painted various wall paintings and Georgiana (his wife) records that in the mornings the men worked on the decoration while she and Janie had their own artistic projects including embroidery. Their creative labour was enlivened by schoolboy pranks, apple fights, games of bowls and drives out into the Kent countryside in a waggonette designed for Morris by Philip Webb.

For five highly industrious and creative years from 1860–5, Red House became the focus of a ‘jovial campaign’ of creating a house and garden to meet William Morris’ taste for medievalism, strong colour and complex pattern making. This community spirit and artistic experimentation led to the founding of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. (later Morris & Co.) in 1861.

Tessa, who is a trustee of Emery Walker’s House in Hammersmith Terrace, West London, will also touch on some of the items in Walker’s house which have connections to Red House.

This live, interactive talk takes place at 3pm on 11 February and is part of a programme of monthly events via Zoom organised by Emery Walker’s House Trust. Entry is by donation. You can prebook via Emerywalker.org.uk.

Emery Walker’s House in Hammersmith has been forced to close since March, so donations large or small are most welcome.

The Emery Walker Trust is a registered charity which aims to preserve and open the House for as many people to enjoy as possible. The Trust also aims to improve knowledge of the Arts & Crafts movement and the life and work of Sir Emery Walker.

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January 29, 2021