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.
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.
Place of Origin
England, Great Britain (made)
Date
1875 (painted)
Artist/maker
Crane, Walter (R.W.S.), born 1845 - died 1915 (designer)
Materials and Techniques
Body colour on paper
Marks and inscriptions
Signed with the artist's emblem
Dimensions
Height: 53.1 cm, Width: 53 cm
Object history note
Exhibited Art Nouveau in Britain, Arts Council, 1965, no 27.
Descriptive line
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.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Greenhalgh, Paul Ed., Art Nouveau : 1890 - 1914. London: V&A Publications, 2000. 464 p., 8.10pl, ill. ISBN 1851772774
Oman, Charles C., and Hamilton, Jean. Wallpapers: a history and illustrated catalogue of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Sotheby Publications, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982.
The full text of the entry is as follows:
'825
Design for the above; signed with the artist's emblem
1875
Body colour
53.3 x 53.3 cm
Given by Mrs Margaret Warner
E.17-1945
Exhibited Art Nouveau in Britain, Arts Council, 1965, no 27.'
NB: 'the above' are V&A objects E.5124, 5125-1919.
Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1945, London: HMSO, 1956.
The full text of the record is as follows:
'CRANE, Walter, R.W.S. (1845-1915)
Design for a portion of wall-paper dado showing swans and rushes. Part of the "Swan, Rush and Iris" dado, intended for use with the "Iris and Kingfisher" wall-paper, produced by Messrs. Jeffrey & Co., 1877.
Signed with the artist's emblem.
Body-colour.
E.17-1945
Given by Mrs Margaret Warner'
Exhibition History
The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900 (Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco 18/02/2012-17/07/2012)
The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900 (Musée d'Orsay 13/09/2011-15/01/2012)
The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900 (Victoria and Albert Museum 02/04/2011-17/07/2011)
Art Nouveau - 1890-1914 (Victoria and Albert Museum 06/04/2000-30/07/2000)
Labels and date
British Galleries:
Walter Crane was the first president of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. He developed his figurative style through illustrating books. He was a prolific commercial designer and worked for many different manufacturers. [27/03/2003]
Materials
Paper; Body colour
Techniques
Painting
Subjects depicted
Iris; Swan (animal)
Categories
Designs; Paintings; Wall coverings
Collection code
PDP
