The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-21
MORRIS SHOW IN LONDON.
Notable Exhibition of the Arts and Crafts
Society at the New Gallery.

Notable Exhibition of the Arts and Crafts
Society Mt the New Gallery.
LONDON. Oct 1T is three years almost to
day since William Morris passed away and yet
his name Is writ large on the majority OF the
specimens OF artistic handicraft that make up
the sixth exhibition Of the Arts and Crafts 60
ctety which was opened to-day. and 10 one OF
the most interesting and valuable seen at the
New Gallery. There is one room devoted en-
tlrey to the works OF the dead master, but 1t Is
not TO this that reference is made so much as to
the works OF those younger men who form the
modern English school OF designers and crafts
men. and who. it needs but a passing glance to
see. have been more controlled by Morris per-
haps than anv other exterior influence.
His weakness as well as his strength can be
seen in the output OF those followers OF his.
hut on the whole it Is impossible to deny that
his influence has been largely for good and has
largely helped to put England far in advance
OF tho Continental schools OF applied art
There are more than seven hundred objects
catalogued in this exhibition. and OF these there
is scarcely one that is not deserving OF atten-
ton on account OF it's thorouRhnsss and oriRi-
nality as well as lite beauty OF design and eX-
cellence Of execution. Especially rich In Jew
elry and enanels 10 the show.
Tho case OF jswelry shown BY Harry Wilson.
who. though leading architect. yet finds time
to produce these brooches. rings and neck
laces. clearly shows how much the artists
craftsmanship can lend to the beauty OF precious
stones and Jewels by the surrounding settings
turn from Nelson bawson' 8 jswery to the fre-
CRATE in forged iron and brass by the sam nS
vigor Of design which this displays, as does the
junction Win Harry wilson: which has All s6c
and yet speaks the nineteenth century In every
line 1t In this feature that the IN ost promis-
ing note seems to be struck by the axhi bition
The new school seem to have absorbed all
that is OF use in intention AS well as method
from the little masters OF the Middle Ages ana nd
They speak the language Of the great schools
express their own ideas. That there IL occa-
slonaIy something OF affeetaton. something
In right direction, 1t Is more eSemplifled
perhars IN the furniture. OF which there are
pieces. especialy those shown by Mr. Ashby.
disp2y gsuntness OF form. lack q proper
fend upon no grounds. on the other hand,
the ESSAYS in simplicity OF Mr.. voysey and
MSEknnm Jarvis ad RroG OF
pendent OF mere ornament.
But i is to the room DEVOTED to the eXh bi.
! attention 10 principally ATTRACTED. The walls
are well-nlgh covered with his original desi n 9
| ol IdDTlCb ana wall papers, anu one cannot out
| wonder at the fertility OF his invention As
| Walter Crane. himself 40 mean designer says
Morriss unerrinR instinct OF decorative
| beauty In surface ornament allowed him to be
eHuberant and profuse rich or intricate. or; as
In the earlier works frank and simple, One
sees an English taste and reserve united with
| through them all. one feels the sprit Of the
romantic and narrative poet refining and in
| forming every detail. as one may sec the sun
! light Illuminating the leafy meshes Of a wild
I wood"
| There ia an interesting exhibit In tho shape
| OF the only oil painting by Morris which is
| known to be in existence. 60 La Belle Iseult.
| II was painted in the early. days OF the pre-
| Raphaeite Brotherhood and shows that had he
confined himself to pi ,torial art alone he would
| have made Of himself a worthy rival to his
| friend and brother in art. Burne Jones. The
| many-sidedness of Morriss genius Is shown
| by the cases that form. in themselves a COM
| pendous history Of the kelmscott Press. which
occupied so much of the energy Of his later
years. Trial pages. designs for initials and
side ornaments. initial letters and specimens
| OF original bindings. are all to be found here
| while Of especial interest Is a case containing
| manuscripts written and ornamented by Nor.
| ris himself. The beauty and distinction OF the
| lettering carries us back to the finest works Of
| the monkish scribea OF the Middle Ages and
causes one to wonder at the amazing industry
! OF the man who could carry out these dainty
| works OF perfection at a time when he was do
! ing ten men q work AS the head OF the greatea
decoratiye establishment in England And
| Omar khayyam' a Horace" and two leaves
Ola Virgil " are especially noteworthy