MORRIS MUSEUM

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 140, 15 June 1936, Page 7

MORRIS MUSEUM

A GIFT BY BRANGWYN

FAMOUS CONTEMPORARIES

Mr. Frank Brangwyn, R.A., in association with Arthur H. Mackmurdo, has given 148 works by contemporary and other well-known artists to the Water House, Walthamstow, once the home of William Morris (says a writer in "The Times"). •

William Morris was born at Walthamstow on March 24, 1834, and the Water House, situated in the heart of this densely-populated borough, is now the property of the community.

In his "Life of William Morris" Pro fessor J. W. Mackail describes the mansion as "a square, heavy Georgian building of yellow brick, with a certain solid dignity of outer aspect and spacious and handsome within. Its principal feature was a great square hall paved with marble flags, from which a broad, square staircase, floored and wainscotea with Spanish chestnut, led up to a large upper hall or gallery. In one of the windows there he used to spend whole days reading, both before and after he went to Oxford. Behind the house was a broad lawn, and beyond it the feature which gave the house its name—a moat of some 40ft in breadth, surrounding an island planted with a grove of aspens. The moat was stocked with, pike and perch; there the boys fished and bathed and boated in summer and skated in winter. The island, roughly and thickly wooded, and fringed with a growth of holly and chestnuts, was a sort of fairyland to all the children, who almost lived in it." MOVEMENT BEGUN. It was in 1908 that a movement was made to convert the Water House into a William Morris Museum. This, however, had to be abandoned, but only temporarily. A local antiquarian society, formed in 1914, carried on th« work, and by gifts and purchases acquired a collection of Morris items. In October, 1929, the charter of incorporation created much local interest, with the result that an old Jacobean house was taken over, and the historical collection lodged therein was opened in the following February by Lord Hanworth, Master of the Rolls. With the granting of a charter, came the historical pageant in which was emphasised the life and influence of Morris. The Morris Centenary celebrations followed, when the pageant was renewed, and this, with an exhibition of Morris's work, stirred up local enthusiasm, with the happy result that the dream of 1908. has at last come true. It was patricularly fitting that Mr. Frank Brangwyn, R.A., who had done many cartoons for Morris, should become interested in the William Morris Memorial Museum , and particularly happy that his gift of 148 works by contemporary and other well-known artists should be made in association with his lifelong friend, Arthur H. Mackmurdo, the second donor in the deed of trust. In addition to a varied collection of Mr. Brangwyn's own works, his generous gift comprises those of his famous contemporaries, including Sir George Clausen, Sir D. Y. Cameron, R.A., Augustus John, R.A., Sir Alfred East, R.A., E. Sickert, R.A., J. M. Swan, R.A., Sir Edward Burne-Jones, R.A., Sir William Richmond, R.A., Sir Frank Short, R.A., Lord Leighton, P.R.A., Sir John Everett Millais, R.A., Clarkson Stanfield, R.A., Albert de Belleroche, and H. B. Brab> zon. OTHERS PROMISED. Included in three pictures by D. G. Rossetti is a beautiful water-colour, "The Loving Cup." The early English school of water-colourists is represented by Samuel Prout, John Varley, and William Muller; the French school by Millet, Leon Lhermitte, and others, while among those of the Chinese and Japanese are Hiroshige and Hokusai, names well known to all collectors of prints. Later Mr. Brangwyn has promised the gallery some valuable cases of rare Persian pottery and a large number of lithographs and etchings. The cases containing the pottery were designed by Mr. Brangwyn, and are fine examples of craftsmanship. This magnificent collection is at present on loan to the City of Liverpool, and , when finally arranged in the Morris Gallery will undoubtedly attract a large number of artists and art lovers to Walthamstow. Arthur H. Mackmurdo,, architect draughtsman, and designer, whose name stands with . Mr. Brangwyn in this gift, is now in his eighty-fifth year, and in addition to his fine record, particularly in the designing of furniture and metal work, he is the author of a number of books and pamphlets. He played an important part in preventing the destruction of much beautiful work in Italy by ill-considered restoration. Actively associated with Morris's inter* est and works in earlier days, Mr. Mackmurdo has played a great part in bringing about this gift. To him the William Morris Art Gallery and Frank Brangwyn gift will be the commemoration such as he would most desire—a People's Art Gallery.