New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-16

was II the romance in Amiens Rouen, or
Charities which made him love those sublime
masterpieces and hate the severe edifces OF
the Renaissance? We are inclined 70 think
that II was romance and not architectural in
sAnct" at all that governed Morris in all his
work We find In his writings and in his arts
DC achievements the same absence Of pondered
Intention which is noticeable in the broad re-
htions OF his life. He improvised his career
a. he went along and he treated his work in
che same way A curious proof Of this lies in
TIE quality IN him which most fascinates and
charms II is not his design, II is his atmos-
rhere OF romance; In his decorative work it ts
never the pure grace Of a line but the oddly of
the ensemble the broad loveness Of the color.
There is, no doubt, a certain structural impulse
az the bottom OF some OF his decorative
schemes; he must have composed a wall paper
as whole, else its recurrent patterns would
not adapt themselves so repOsefuIly 10 the
faces over which they are unrolled; yet We
venture TO say that the central repose Of really
great designer was never vouchsafed TO Morris
This biography gives US an impression Of a
man overlooking with enthusiasm for beauty,
loving passionately all things sensuous, and
striking OFF from day 10 day work that was
Sometimes good and sometimes bad One misses
something II Is perhaps the sustained power.
tie unwavering constructive art, characteristic
OF great genius ard Of great genius alone There
Is food for speculation n a remark he once made
frror,s ~ The Oxford rrofassorshir Of poetry.
fo~ which some Of his friends were anxious that
p srrrrd stand 1T seems 70 me- he said
~.he. The practice % am, at rather Darrows the
s-..et IN regard 10 the theory Of it." Is It not
joss i,e that 4 Norris had theotized a little re
g.. u -ht have -ef; behind him a ufewOrk more
cofa~.r u and OF The whole more imposing? He
VS. . S rue not uucr.tical OF his work. There
&. ...r-- that he shaved uuremIttingly until he
bad made. d .h'rc that suited him He would re-
i... , niece - work OH, ~ his own shop over
ar. over again. until his Judgment was satisfied.
IT.. cost did not matter. He was perfectly sin
cove when he said that he did not work for
money t-.. el~ -h- i9v ~ producing beautiful
.l.rrs /. is ro, unfair % surmlse however, /
cha. ,r-f.7 cultivated his critical faculty with
..ss reference 20 his OVID rather narrow tastes,
ai1 deeper respect for what other men have
red for and th-orized' about he would have
caI,-5 enormously IL his own fields. We say
t..-.,s. .t.,- ,,-o-a CON !
AIS -e9--@ '-'- la w. g.,
tee ~ Tie at and lie OF one peilO1 ~ ILL.
Tia fourteenth century was the elimination or |
g.. worlds civilization. H knew Chaucer pro- |
..,. 1-....t...t.- and rs+ar authors |
IC-L--S' o-' ---0 1---1 ~ 80, 3,
Il Knew very lElpet-ec-y ana IeaD "U' ne
Though he adCr,L Ho.beiu and Van Eyck he |
,.,- ,,.--.,,r,. ~ any time have exchanged the
~, go. contents for the |
->@'--1.' - r2~.-tst. Ar,se,,r, "
:. .s .,,-oes.f,e not II wish that he might have
-. -;,.-,- IT, his er+r,,etasrns
DEL q --'-.- ~ " 80 ,., .4
Taking him Tor "hat ne was 1NVie S'N'l1S o-'
one quality IL him which makes him. II this
t- -lo.-7 5.i.rt.t4,,I 70 /