MA Methodology - Primary Research Report
Image one: (Schongauer 1473) Madonna of the Rose Bower Image two: Morris (1882) Trellis Wallpaper [Photo] Allen, C. Victoria and Albert Museum. Image three: Ormiston R & Wells, N.M. (2010) William Morris, Artist Craftsman Pioneer. Private Collection/Bridgeman Art Library. FlameTree Publishing Ltd, page 118.
Primary Research Report
‘Trellis’ Wallpaper by William Morris
William Morris designed wallpapers which were printed using pear-wood blocks which were hand cut and the designs chiselled into the block. In my own practice as a surface pattern designer, I have always been fascinated by these beautiful hand made wooden blocks and the history behind them. I have also admired Morris’s structured patterns which are derived from natural forms and his perseverance in obtaining absolute perfection in his work. I am interested in investigating further the working methods and materials used by Morris and hope to apply these practices to my own work.
In my recent visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, I was able to see first hand the famous ‘Trellis’ wallpaper which was Morris’s first wallpaper design and third to be issued in 1862. The wallpaper was inspired by the wattled trellises in the medieval garden at Red House, where Morris captured the randomness and beauty of nature in pattern. The Trellis wallpaper has also been linked to the Trellis paintings by (Schongauer 1473) ‘Madonna of the Rose Bower’ which features the Madonna sat with child in front of a beautiful trellis with twining flowers.
The pattern displays a thorny rambling rose bush climbing up through a wooden trellis. Small birds are perched on the vine pecking away at the leaves. Insects are added to the pattern, placement of these insects are probably intentional possibly to fill gaps and add interest to the design. The birds are thought to have been drawn by Morris’s partner Webb as Morris was not confident in his own drawing skills although Morris’s daughter has denied this to be true. The early sketches of the wallpaper show rubbed out bird drawings that were then placed in another position on the design. Morris worked closely with the Managing Director Metford Warner until each paper was exactly as Morris wanted so he was very aware of what he wanted his audience to see and feel when viewing the wallpaper.
Patterns, and combinations of patterns can produce a broad range of physical, psychological and emotional responses. When evaluating the wallpaper, the colours first appear flat and dark and the pattern very ‘busy’. *
The Arcitect Richard Norman Shaw, also disapproved of Morris's 'glaring wallpapers', Shaw wrote:
It is disconcerting, you will admit, when you find that your host and hostess are less noticeable than their wallpapers and their furniture ... present day belief that good design consists of pattern - pattern repeated ad nauseam - is an outrage on good taste. A wallpaper should be a background pure and simple that and nothing more. If there is any pattern at all ... it ought to be of the simplest kind, quite unobtrusive ...(Shaw, Undated). * This quote and paragraph five and six will be used in my MA research methodology written assignment and oral presentation.
On my first impression when seeing the wallpaper for the first time, I was excited as I had read so much about Morris but was also unimpressed due to the nature of the pattern. The trellis appeared to trap the leaves and branches and the pattern felt constricted. The trellis almost appeared to be like bars of a jail cell. The pattern made me feel quite anxious. An example of the Trellis wallpaper is also shown in a blue colourway which appears much lighter and easier on the eye and much more relaxing. Viewing the wallpaper in this colour changed my opinion towards the design although the pattern would still be quite overpowering if it were in a small room.
Morris’s patterns have lots of depth about them. Your eyes tend to search the pattern for irregularities, where there are few as the branches, leaves or tendrils continue on in Morris' patterns. If the viewer sees breaks in the pattern, the more unrealistic and less believable the pattern is. Also when looking at a photographic realistic painting, our brains compare it to the real thing and if the painting isn't exact then the painting falls short as a result (Rodemann 1999).
The contents of Morris's Trellis wallpaper containing florals, leaves and birds are made to make the viewer feel relaxed and think of being amongst nature. Yet the wallpaper made me feel anxious, although this I think may be because I was being quite rushed to see the artifacts in the museum, which was also quite busy at the time. The wallpaper was beautiful and it was obvious lots of skill had gone into it. The colours and motifs in the wallpaper were very popular in the 1800’s and are still popular today but I tend to think this is due to the historical reference of William Morris and people’s love of old things.
I need to carry out further research into the patterns, methods and materials used by William Morris and carry out further research into how he has influenced other designers of today.
Reflection:
Evaluating this piece of work by William Morris has been invaluable, as a writing exercise, whilst also giving me observational skills in relation to other peoples work and my own. It has raised questions into what further research that I would like to carry out throughout the course of my MA and how I will approach this research.
Bibliography:
Schongauers, M. (1473) Encyclopedia britannica, martin schongauers [Online] Available from: http://www.britannica.com/search?query=martin%20schongauers [Accessed 10 October 2015].
Ormiston R & Wells, N.M, (2010) William Morris, Artist Craftsman Pioneer. London: FlameTree Publishing.
Society of Antiquaries of London, Kelmscott Manor [Online] Available from: https://www.sal.org.uk/kelmscott-manor [Accessed 10 October 2015].
Victoria and Albert Museum (2015) Block-printed wallpaper [Video] Available from: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/videos/b/video-block-printed-wallpaper/ [Accessed 10 October 2015]
Victoria and Albert Museum (2015) William Morris & Wallpaper Design [Online] Available from: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/w/william-morris-and-wallpaper-design/ [Accessed 10 October 2015].
World Gallery.co.uk (2015) Madonna of the Rose Bower 1473 Art Print. [Online] Available from: http://www.worldgallery.co.uk/art-print/martin-schongauer-madonna-of-the-rose-bower-1473-301341#301341-40-30-1 [Accessed 10 October 2015].
