. William De Morgan and his wife . ewel-like birds fly across ablue-black sky, how the pallid fish shine through green water ; how theturquoise and purple flowers star the wooded lawns, how the pythonglitters in his forest lair ; such is our potters handling of incomparablematerial. ^ The quotation from the above article is given at some lengthin order to convey adequately the happy manner and matter ofit. Meanwhile, to summarize certain conclusions, two pointsmay be emphasized. First, that in De Morgans successfulproductions there is a peculiar softness combined with brillianceto which none o
. William De Morgan and his wife . ewel-like birds fly across ablue-black sky, how the pallid fish shine through green water ; how theturquoise and purple flowers star the wooded lawns, how the pythonglitters in his forest lair ; such is our potters handling of incomparablematerial. ^ The quotation from the above article is given at some lengthin order to convey adequately the happy manner and matter ofit. Meanwhile, to summarize certain conclusions, two pointsmay be emphasized. First, that in De Morgans successfulproductions there is a peculiar softness combined with brillianceto which none of his imitators have attained. Secondly, that anoticeable sense of life and suppleness is characteristic of all theliving forms which he represents, and renders them easily dis-tinguishable from the work of other artists by whom such typesare utilized as a mere form of inanimate decoration. Even asuperficial observer may remark that the most grotesque bogeyDe Morgan ever painted is alive and can boast an individualityall its own 1. Further, much has been said at all times respecting the * William De Morgan. Article in the Burlington Magazine, Augustand September, 1917, by IVIiss May Morris. THE CHELSEA PERIOD 101 secret of De Morgans process ; yet, as far as he was concernedthis secret —the outcome of experiment with pigments andclose study extending over forty years—was one which he wasalways ready to share with fellow-workers. Only to the idleinquirer who believed himself about to fathom a possible sourceof wealth, did De Morgan ever turn a deaf ear. A story runs that one day a man of this description trieddiplomatically to learn the process employed by De Morgan. I wish you would describe to me how you first set to work ? he said. And De Morgan told him. And what do you do next ? said the friend. Again De Morgan told him. And finally ? asked the questioner, scarcely able to keepthe note of triumph out of his voice. Oh—finally ? said De Morgan with engaging ingenuous-ne
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1922
