William Morris(1834-96) is known as a magnificent artist and theorist of the 19th century.

He spent his childhood in Epping Forest, an ancient woodland that he loved to explore with his brothers and sisters. After his graduation from Oxford University, he married Jane Burden and they began to live in Red House which was cutting edge architecture built with his friends Philip Webb. Morris dedicated himself to interior decoration of Red House with his friends, and they found “Morris, Marshall, Faulkner&Co.” which was a furnishings and decorative arts manufacturer and retailer. He produced many textiles, printed cottons, wallpapers, books and tiles whose design were inspired by various places where he lived, worked and loved. Kelmscott Manor which he called “Heaven on Earth” and the branches of Thames where he enjoyed fishing and boating also gave the inspiration for his works. 

This exhibition is composed of 6 chapters from his childhood until his late period and followers, and tries to show the overview of artist works and his lifetime from different environmental aspects. The exhibition is also accompanied with the audio- visual contents of his context featuring some chapters.

An exhibition of Kenkichi Tomimoto is organized at the same period by Nara Prefectural Museum of Art.

Exhibits :

• about 80 works

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William Morris
Pimpernel
1876
photo: ©Brain Trust inc.