5th February 2018
If you’re read about the Pre-Raphaelite movement, you’ll have heard of The Germ. A magazine established in 1850 at the beginning of he movement, it was set up by founding members Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais and William Michal Rossetti who was known as the editor and historian of the movement.
The aim of the magazine was to circulate the creative work and ideas of the Brotherhood and it would contain poetry, literature and art – all important forms of expression and art for the members. At the end of each issue, their mission was printed, so it’s better to use their words here:
“With a view to obtain the thoughts of Artists, upon Nature as evolved in Art […] this Periodical has been established. Thus, then, it is not open to the conflicting opinions of all who handle the brush and palette, nor is it restricted to actual practitioners; but is intended to enunciate the principles of those who, in the true spirit of Art, enforce a rigid adherence to the simplicity of Nature either in Art or Poetry […].”
Though, as we know, the Pre-Raphaelite movement continued to develop for years after, The Germ closed down after four numbers; January, February, March and April 1850. The name even changed half way through to encourage more readers, changing to; Art and Poetry: Being Thoughts towards Nature Conducted Principally by Artists. D.G. Rossetti pushed all his enthusiasm into the magazine but it didn’t work out.
The name ‘The Germ’ came from the importance of nature to the movement and also from the phrase ‘the germ of an idea’ – it was supposed to be a seed from which future creative ideas would grow and flourish.
In a collaborative works, it printed contributions of works on art and literature as well as book reviews. Those contributors even included associates of the Brotherhood such as Ford Madox Brown. The issues each began with an original illustration. In one issue where Woolner’s poem ‘My Beautiful Lady’ was accompanied with a drawing from William Holman Hunt. It was Madox Brown who created a two page illustration of King Lear and his daughters for issue number three – this accompanied his article of the mechanics of a history painting.
Photo: The Germ: Thoughts Towards Nature In Poetry, Literature, and Art (2 Volumes). Art and Poetry: Being Thoughts Towards Nature Conducted Principally by Artists (2 Volumes). William Michael Rossetti.
Posted in News by Laura
Did you know that in Japan where our projects are sold, our tea towels are used not only for being functional but for decoration - we love that they’re framed, or laid on the table as a centrepiece to be admired or hung as a draped item to bring some nature indoors 🌿 we thought we’d do the same by using the tea towel as a centrepiece for a simple cup of tea and very delicious piece of cake! 🍰
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With so many timeless designs and writings, we think Morris achieved his aim, don’t you? 🫶🏻
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Lazy Sunday mornings 💤 our William Morris Strawberry Thief tablecloths are now back in stock in all sizes if you fancy adding some floral magic to your table ✨ Hope you all have a lovely Sunday! 🩷
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A beautiful day on the beach; we had to take our incredible small Compton tote bag to carry a certain someone’s special treats that we got from the lovely @nationaltrust shop, can you tell he was very happy with them! 😂🫶🏻
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We’re going to have to look at this English summer through our rose coloured specs we think and set the table summery despite the rain!☔️🩷 We thought this made the perfect table setting; a bouquet with blooms out the garden wrapped in a Daisy napkin cone, doesn’t it look great! 🫶🏻 We’re going to put a small bunch at everyone’s seat and then they can take them home to enjoy at their houses 🌿
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✨ It’s the last day for 20% off our whole website! ✨ Use code: floralsummer at checkout on our website today only! 🫶🏻
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We’re thinking of selling our William Morris Daisy fabric by the half metre 🫶🏻 It’s a much narrower fabric than our usual fabrics, but we’ve had some customers interested in it in cotton and heavyweight for projects such as upholstery, curtain and dress making and quilting projects, what do you all think? ✨🌿
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✨✨ Offer extended ✨✨ We forgot to give you warning that our 20% off code was expiring and we thought it would brighten up some rainy July days, so now until the 14th July, take 20% off our website using code: FLORALSUMMER ☂️
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Always learning new napkin folds- anyone fancy a tutorial on how to make this little cutlery napkin jacket? 🍴🫶🏻 We’ve been using Willow Bough green and blue together on the table lately and we LOVE them together! 🌿 what do you think? Would you put them together on your table? ☺️
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These blooms 😍 We absolutely adore this design Charlotte Rose, it’s from our French archive that we lovingly restored to its former glory and bring out all year round for on the table- we paired it here with our Willow Bough green tablecloth and the greens and pinks go together so well 🫶🏻
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Cut this wonderful fabric stack yesterday 🫶🏻 All these beautiful Morris florals together in our heavyweight fabrics 🪡🧵
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Our biggest summer sale alert! ‼️ Fancy 20% off our entire website?✨ Including our timeless Morris Strawberry Thief licensed design and everything else in our collection, just use code; floralsummer at checkout, hurry, it ends on the 7th July 🫶🏻
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One of our favourite Morris quotes 🫶🏻
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Enjoying peony season with some fresh blooms 🫶🏻
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Breakfast featuring Strawberry Thief taking pictures whilst waiting for the toast to pop! 🍓
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The simple things in life- a coffee and biscuit in the garden with some flowers 🌷 swipe for a little someone who is all ears when the word biscuit is mentioned 😅🍪
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Can’t go on holidays without our Strawberry Thief windbreak to huddle behind! ⛱️ We upcycled this using the posts from our old one, if you’ve got one hanging about the garden shed, the how-to is on our blog so you can craft your own using our William Morris fabrics that we sell by the half metre 🫶🏻
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Bertie’s been loving Bridgerton and thought he’d pose with the wisteria wearing his Daisy cravat 😉
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When the audio accurately sums up how you feel about a design 🫶🏻 Beautiful Sweet Briar was first designed in 1912, we love the sweet little pink flowers in the climbing rose stems 🌹 This licensed Morris design is now back in stock, let us know if you’d like a sample! ✨
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Our William Morris Willow Bough green placemats are now back in stock! ✨ They’re a beautiful addition to the table for every meal time 🫶🏻
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