William De Morgan

Key facts

Lived

1839–1917, British

Movements

• Arts and Crafts
• Pre-Raphaelite

Works held in

1 museum

• What is William De Morgan's most famous work?+

  It is difficult to name one single work as William De Morgan's "most famous". He was a prolific designer of ceramics, stained glass, and tiles, often drawing inspiration from medieval art and the Arts and Crafts movement. De Morgan's designs frequently featured stylised animals, birds, and floral motifs. Pieces such as his lustreware chargers, vases, and tile panels are well known. These items often display a distinctive iridescent glaze effect, achieved through a complex firing process. He collaborated with his wife, the painter Evelyn De Morgan, on some projects. Evelyn's paintings, such as "Phosphorus and Hesperus" (1881) and "The Angel of Death" (1890), reflect similar artistic influences to those found in William's decorative work. While no single piece may eclipse all others in fame, De Morgan's collective output has secured his place as a significant figure in late 19th- and early 20th-century design. His work remains popular among collectors and admirers of the Arts and Crafts aesthetic.
• What should I know about William De Morgan's prints?+

  William De Morgan (1839-1917) is best known as a ceramicist, but some of his paintings and drawings were reproduced as prints. In 1882, Thomas Agnew commissioned an etching of De Morgan's *Sibyl* from Léopold Flameng (also known as Léopold Waltner), who had a reputation for quality engravings after historical paintings. The print was announced as a dry-point with etching, and printed in a small edition of just 225 artist's proofs. Later, other engravers produced prints of De Morgan's work. C. W. Campbell created mezzotints of *The Birth of Galatea* (1885) and *Pan and Psyche* (1887). De Morgan admired Campbell's mezzotint technique. Robert Dunthorne, a specialist print publisher, issued *The Birth of Galatea* in an edition of 200. After De Morgan's death, some of his paintings were etched by French artists and published by Tooth's. These included *The Mill* (etched by Emile Sulpis), *Spring* (etched by Abel Mignon), and *Psyche’s Wedding* (etched by F. Jasinski). The Berlin Photographic Company produced a large photoengraving of De Morgan's work in 1901, in a limited edition of 300 copies. The Fine Art Society issued *The Flower Book* as colour lithographs in 1905, also in a limited edition of 300 copies.
• What style or movement did William De Morgan belong to?+

  William De Morgan was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement in Britain. Active in the last decades of the 19th century, this movement arose from a rejection of industrial manufacturing. Figures such as John Ruskin and William Morris believed that industrial capitalism alienated workers. They advocated for art made by the people, for the people, as a joy for both maker and user. Many in the Arts and Crafts movement considered themselves socialists. They dedicated themselves to producing functional objects of high aesthetic value for a wide public. Their style was based on natural forms, often using repeated floral or geometric patterns. Morris, in order to promote these ideals, formed Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, and Company, Fine Arts Workmen in Painting, Carving, Furniture and Metals. The firm produced wallpaper, textiles, tiles, furniture, books, rugs, stained glass and pottery.
• What techniques or materials did William De Morgan use?+

  William De Morgan, an important figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, is known for his work in ceramics, particularly his use of lustre glazes, which gave his pieces a distinctive metallic sheen. His approach was influenced by Hispano-Moorish and Persian pottery, and he employed bright colours such as blues, greens, turquoise, and deep reds. De Morgan often used tile or pot blanks from firms such as Davis of Hanley, Staffordshire, which he then decorated with plants, flowers, animals, and mythological scenes. This method of using commercially made blanks, and then individually glazing or decorating them, set him apart from others in the movement. His wife, Evelyn De Morgan, blended influences from the Arts and Crafts movement, Art Nouveau, Symbolism and Medievalism. While visiting John Roddam Spencer Stanhope in Florence, she studied the work of artists of the Renaissance, especially Sandro Botticelli.
• What was William De Morgan known for?+

  William De Morgan (1839-1917) is best known as a designer associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. This movement, popular from 1880 to 1910, sought to revive hand-crafted objects in opposition to mass-produced items. De Morgan worked with the firm of Morris & Company, run by William Morris, a former Pre-Raphaelite painter. Morris shifted from painting to design, becoming, according to some, the finest pattern designer in Britain since the Middle Ages. Morris hoped to offer an alternative to factory work through handcrafts; however, his products remained a luxury for wealthier people. Morris & Company created textiles, carpets, and furniture. The firm also rejuvenated the stained glass tradition in Britain. Morris himself sought excellence in dyeing and revived the art of weaving. His broad approach to interior design inspired many artists and architects.
• When did william de morgan die?+

  William De Morgan died in 1917 at the age of 78.
• When did William De Morgan live and work?+

  William Morris was born on 24 March 1834, in Elm House, Walthamstow. In 1840, his family relocated to Woodford Hall, also in Walthamstow; later, in 1848, they moved to Water House. Morris's father died in 1847. He attended school at Marlborough, leaving in 1851. He later matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford, in June 1852, initially planning to enter the Church. However, by 1855, Morris decided to pursue art instead. In 1856, he was articled to architect G. E. Street and met Philip Webb. That year he moved to London and shared rooms with Burne-Jones. By the end of 1856, he met Rossetti and abandoned architecture for painting. Morris married Jane Burden on 26 April 1859. Morris died on 3 October 1896.
• Where can I see William De Morgan's work?+

  You can view William De Morgan's ceramic work in several museum collections, both in the United Kingdom and abroad. In the UK, notable collections are held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, the National Museums of Scotland in Edinburgh, and the Manchester Art Gallery. Other locations include the Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum, and the Court Barn Museum in Chipping Campden. Outside the UK, several institutions hold examples of De Morgan's work. These include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, Florida.
• Where was William De Morgan from?+

  William De Morgan is not mentioned in the provided passages. However, there is information about William Morris, a contemporary of De Morgan's in the Arts and Crafts movement. Morris was born in 1834 and met Edward Burne-Jones while at Cambridge. Together, they became supporters of the Pre-Raphaelite movement and were later joined by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Morris's firm, Messrs. Morris Co., produced stained glass windows and fine textiles. Morris also designed carpets and furniture. He sought perfection in dyeing, revived the art of weaving, started the Society for the Protection of Old Buildings, and was a woodcut engraver and publisher. He opposed the machine and supported handicrafts. Morris married Jane Burden in 1859 and decided to build a home for them beyond London, but within commuting distance. He found the village of Upton, now Bexleyheath, in Kent, which suited his needs perfectly.
• Who did William De Morgan influence?+

  William De Morgan's impact is noticeable in the work of potters and ceramic designers who admired his rediscovery of lustreware techniques and his imaginative designs. While not a direct teacher in a formal sense, De Morgan's Fulham pottery became a place where many artists and designers could observe and learn. His emphasis on craftsmanship and his revival of historical methods had an impact on the Arts and Crafts movement. His work also influenced his wife, Evelyn De Morgan, whose paintings sometimes echo the colours and patterns found in his ceramics. Later designers, such as those working in the art pottery studios of the early 20th century, owe a debt to De Morgan's experimentation and his successful integration of art and industry. His designs, often featuring stylised animals, birds, and floral motifs, also found their way into tile designs for domestic and architectural use, influencing the aesthetic of interior spaces.
• Who influenced William De Morgan?+

  William De Morgan's aesthetic was shaped by several sources, including the Arts and Crafts movement and Pre-Raphaelite art. He was a lifelong friend of William Morris, and the two collaborated on projects. Morris's emphasis on craftsmanship and the decorative arts had a direct impact on De Morgan's style. De Morgan also drew inspiration from Islamic art, particularly Persian and Iznik pottery. These influences are visible in his use of colour and complex patterns. The designs often feature stylised animals, birds, and floral motifs arranged in symmetrical compositions. His early training as a painter also informed his later work in ceramics. He studied at the Royal Academy Schools, where he learned the principles of drawing and composition. This academic background gave him a solid foundation in the visual arts, which he then applied to the decorative arts.
• Who was william de morgan?+

  William De Morgan (1839-1917) was an English ceramicist, tile designer, potter and novelist. Associated with the Arts and Crafts movement, he is best known for his decorative tiles, pottery and stained glass. Born in London, De Morgan was the son of the mathematician Augustus De Morgan. He studied at University College School and then at the Royal Academy schools. There, he met his lifelong friend, Simeon Solomon, and became associated with William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelite circle. In 1863, De Morgan established his own stained-glass business. By 1869, he was experimenting with pottery decoration. In 1872, he moved to Chelsea, where he established a pottery works. Morris helped him build a kiln. De Morgan's early work involved painting designs onto plain tiles. He experimented extensively with lustreware glazes and rediscovered lost techniques for producing certain colours and metallic effects. De Morgan's tiles and pottery often featured stylised animals, birds, and floral motifs. These drew inspiration from medieval illustrations, Islamic art, and other sources. His work gained popularity during the late 19th century, and he produced commissions for Liberty & Co. and P & O Shipping. After experiencing business difficulties, De Morgan closed his Fulham pottery in 1907 and turned to writing novels.