8th February 2017
Born on this day in 1819, John Ruskin remains remembered as one of the most influential intellectuals and activists of the Victorian Age. You may have heard of his name in relation to the Arts & Crafts Movement due to the fact William Morris (often deemed the ‘father’ of the movement) held Ruskin and his work in such high regard and was strongly influenced by both his writings and social commentaries. Morris recalled being first introduced to Ruskin’s work, “To some of us when we first read it, now many years ago, it seemed to point out a new road which the world should travel.”
It can be claimed that it was Ruskin and his writings during the 19th Century which laid the foundations for the Arts & Crafts movement to flourish. The most important idea was that he called for a revival of traditional craftsmanship- as we’ve written about in past blogs, the Movement was fronted by those that saw industrialisation was killing artistry and craftsmanship for the ordinary man. This came from Ruskin in two of his most influential works, “The Seven Lamps of Architecture” (1849) and “The Stones of Venice” (1851-53- a trilogy works.)
Born in London to Margaret and John James, he was home schooled and well educated. His appreciation of art and literature came from his father, a prosperous sherry importer and art collector; he encouraged his son to take an interest in the arts. His mother was a Evangelical Christian, so raised in this environment he had Christian ideals instilled upon him from a young age; reading the Bible every morning from the age of 3.
Aged 11 he published his first poem- and his first prose at 15 showing talent from an early age! Attending Christ Church, Oxford in 1843, during his years here he not only earned a reputation for being a fine watercolour artist, but also won the Oxford Newdigate Poetry Competition in 1839 and was presented the award by William Wordsworth- an idol of his during his youth.
Ruskin with William Holman Hunt
One example of Ruskin’s views towards industrialisation comes from volume II of his ‘The Stones of Venice’ series;
“And the great cry that rises from all our manufacturing cities, louder than their furnace blast, is all in very deed for this- that we manufacture everything there except men; we blanch cotton, and strengthen steel, and refine sugar, and shape pottery; but to brighten, to strengthen, to refine, or to form a single living spirit, never enters into our estimate of advantages.” – John Ruskin, The Stones of Venice: Volume II (1853.)
Looking back through history, there are always figures we need to thank for their contributions to keeping beautiful architecture preserved and restored so we can still see it today. Ruskin is one such figure- interested in the Gothic Revival he saw it as a huge importance to preserve and restore Gothic architecture of the Middle Ages.
Also, Ruskin was known for his support of Pre-Rephaelitism as a movement, and the artists within the movement- writing of his support.
A visionary of the time, he spoke and wrote about topics not popular common issues at the time. These included women’s education, minimum wage, pensions, global warming and pollution among many others. Not only is he remembered today for his own writings and works, but the ideas he had at the time which were far beyond the time he lived in. We also remember him for the influence he gave to Morris, and how his ideas helped Morris’ own to flourish.
Posted in News by Laura
Did you know we offer a gift wrap service? 🎁 If you’ve got a loved one you’d like to send a floral gift to this year, you can send it straight to their door all wrapped with a note written by the Laura’s Beau elves 🎄🤶🏻 It’s an option on our website only and you can check the gift wrap box at checkout to write your gift tag that we will hand write for you (we also won’t include a reciept or anything of course, but will email it to you instead ✨) Are you giving any William Morris floral goodies to your friends and family this year? 🤍
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Anyone else started on the mince pies this weekend? 🥧 We’ve been feeling rather festive the last week or so, are you all in the festive spirit yet or waiting until December? 🎄
📸 features our William Morris Brother Rabbit blue design 🤍
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To brighten up the kitchen with florals, we love hanging our William Morris tea towels on hooks, over the oven door or kitchen sink 🌿 An easy way to add a pop of colour or design ✨ They’re a great Christmas gift this year and come in a whole range of Morris designs to suit everyone’s kitchens 🎁
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Use Code: BF15 for 15% at checkout until Monday 27th at midnight 🌛 Happy Shopping ✨ (valid on our website only; www.laurasbeau.co.uk 🌿
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🎄 A Christmas table set up using our Red Strawberry Thief licensed William Morris design ✨ We love how perfect it is dressed up for Christmas but can be used all year round accessorised for all the seasons 🌿
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#christmas #christmastable #christmastablecloth #williammorris #williammorrisfabric #williammorrisfabrics #williammorrisdesign #strawberrythief #preraphaelite
Our virtual craft market is now live! ✨ Only on our Etsy page, you can now shop a limited range different sizes of our licensed William Morris fabrics as offcuts and also, some craft bundles🧵And there is also a pretty fabulous Black Friday deal on everything on our Etsy at the moment! 🌿We`re always working to be more sustainable (you can read more about what we do on our blog) and offcuts is a great way for us to reduce waste - some are larger pieces that are various widths and lengths and some are bundles of fabric offcuts. ✨ Accurate measurements are in the listing, and you`ll find the full market under a tab on our Etsy. The bundles are brilliant gifts for crafters, quilters and those who you know would like to try a whole range of William Morris fabrics 🎁
We`ll keep this tab updated as and when we have fabric ready so keep checking back! Remember, we do sell all our fabric by the half metre if you find a new fave in a bundle 🤍
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Used for a very special engagement tablescape this past weekend was our timelessly beautiful Charlotte Rose! 🥂💍✨ It’s actually a design from our French archive, we absolutely love it ☺️ If you’re starting your Christmas shopping it’s a wonderful gift idea for them to love using all year round on their table 🥂
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#tablescape #tabledecor #engagement #frenchfloral #frenchflorals #floraltable #florals #floraldesign
A wonderful addition to the table, our placemats, available in a range of licensed William Morris designs, set the scene for a whole range of celebrations sat around the table 🥂
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These green tones together are so lovely 🌿 Can you name all of these licensed William Morris designs? Which is your favourite? ✨ If you’d like a sample of any just let us know ☺️
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Autumn tablescapes always brighten the home up this time of year ✨ This is our William Morris Compton design, always super popular it’s got the most beautiful colours within it ✨
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🎃 Just a little pup in his pumpkin outfit to deliver a Halloween treat for you! Get 15% off our website with code: Halloween 👻 His little Strawberry Thief bandana is so easy to make from our fabric and always looks so cute on him, we need to make him one in every design! ✨ (discount code can be used only on our website until Sunday at midnight!) 🎃
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Functional + stylish, a tea towel thrown over the cooker or sink really does brighten up the kitchen - bringing some florals inside the home! ✨ This is our licensed William Morris Sweet Briar design, we absolutely love this delicate design with soft pink flowers 🌷
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A fabric stack full of William Morris licensed designs, which is your favourite? ✨
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Sitting at the table to admire our latest floral arrangement creation with a cuppa! ☕️ Don’t these colours look absolutely wonderful with our beautiful licensed William Morris design Compton 🧡
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Back in stock- wonderful Golden Lily pvc fabric 🤩 Its a wipe clean material, so is absolutely perfect for the dining table 🍴 Available by the half metre in length, its 140cm wide, so fits most tables, an easy option whilst not compromising on beautiful William Morris florals! 💐
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Can’t forget your Strawberry Thief tote if you’re off to the shops! 🛍️
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Sunday evenings in the Autumn months call out for a cosy fire and treats 🍂 Mallow Wine always looks so beautiful this time of year, the placemats are so handy for protecting surfaces from hot dishes and mugs, plus are so lovely on the tablescapes! 🤍
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October calls for pumpkin decorations 🎃 Brother Rabbit looking completely beautiful on the table as always 🌿 It never needs a complex tablescape as the design speaks for itself! 🤍
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Florals in the sunshine ☀️✨ Can you name all of our licensed William Morris prints? 🌿
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Off to the beach! 🏝️☀️ Got to have a tote with us that can fit all the snacks, books and suncream! 🦀 Golden Lily in the sun is so beautiful 🐠🐬
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