Swan, Rush and Iris
Wallpaper Design
1875 (painted)
1875 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This is one of Walter Crane's earliest designs for wallpaper, created in 1875. The black outlines and solid blocks of colour of this design suggest a study of Greek vase painting. A slightly amended version of this design was produced as a wallpaper two years later by Jeffrey & Co.
People
Walter Crane (1845-1915) was the first President of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. He excelled in flat pattern design and worked for many different manufacturers. He began designing wallpapers in 1874, after his name was suggested to Metford Warner, the director of Jeffrey & Co., by the designer, Bruce Talbert. He subsequently became one of Jeffrey & Co.'s most important designers.
Design & Designing
Walter Crane developed his figurative style through illustrating books, for which he was most famous. In his illustrated children's books of the 1870s, the clever drawings and brilliant colour sense made his work popular with children and adults alike, and they are still in print 130 years later. Typically, Crane's wallpaper designs were figurative, and often narrative, drawing on Greek myth, fairy tales and nursery rhymes. This design has a formality based on heraldic design combined with a naturalistic and pictorial theme. It is typical of Crane's style in the 1870s.
This is one of Walter Crane's earliest designs for wallpaper, created in 1875. The black outlines and solid blocks of colour of this design suggest a study of Greek vase painting. A slightly amended version of this design was produced as a wallpaper two years later by Jeffrey & Co.
People
Walter Crane (1845-1915) was the first President of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. He excelled in flat pattern design and worked for many different manufacturers. He began designing wallpapers in 1874, after his name was suggested to Metford Warner, the director of Jeffrey & Co., by the designer, Bruce Talbert. He subsequently became one of Jeffrey & Co.'s most important designers.
Design & Designing
Walter Crane developed his figurative style through illustrating books, for which he was most famous. In his illustrated children's books of the 1870s, the clever drawings and brilliant colour sense made his work popular with children and adults alike, and they are still in print 130 years later. Typically, Crane's wallpaper designs were figurative, and often narrative, drawing on Greek myth, fairy tales and nursery rhymes. This design has a formality based on heraldic design combined with a naturalistic and pictorial theme. It is typical of Crane's style in the 1870s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Swan, Rush and Iris (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Body colour on paper |
| Brief description | Design for 'Swan, Rush and Iris' wallpaper dado (E.5124, 5125-1919), silhouetted swans against a stylised background of rush and iris, suggesting the influence of Greek vase paintings; Designed by Walter Crane; Body colour on paper; Signed with the artist's emblem; England; 1875. |
| Physical description | Design for 'Swan, Rush and Iris' wallpaper dado (E.5124, 5125-1919), silhouetted swans against a stylised background of rush and iris, suggesting the influence of Greek vase paintings; Body colour on paper; Signed with the artist's emblem. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Signed with the artist's emblem |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Mrs Margaret Warner |
| Object history | Exhibited Art Nouveau in Britain, Arts Council, 1965, no 27. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This is one of Walter Crane's earliest designs for wallpaper, created in 1875. The black outlines and solid blocks of colour of this design suggest a study of Greek vase painting. A slightly amended version of this design was produced as a wallpaper two years later by Jeffrey & Co. People Walter Crane (1845-1915) was the first President of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. He excelled in flat pattern design and worked for many different manufacturers. He began designing wallpapers in 1874, after his name was suggested to Metford Warner, the director of Jeffrey & Co., by the designer, Bruce Talbert. He subsequently became one of Jeffrey & Co.'s most important designers. Design & Designing Walter Crane developed his figurative style through illustrating books, for which he was most famous. In his illustrated children's books of the 1870s, the clever drawings and brilliant colour sense made his work popular with children and adults alike, and they are still in print 130 years later. Typically, Crane's wallpaper designs were figurative, and often narrative, drawing on Greek myth, fairy tales and nursery rhymes. This design has a formality based on heraldic design combined with a naturalistic and pictorial theme. It is typical of Crane's style in the 1870s. |
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| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.17-1945 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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