Carey Morris
Encyclopedia
Carey Morris was a Welsh
painter born in Llandeilo
, Carmarthenshire
. He was related to the Welsh poet Sir Lewis Morris.
, Llandeilo County School, and the Slade School of Art. Physician Henry Tonks
was an art professor there at the time, and Morris' studies gave him a facility with anatomy
that later influenced his work, adding depth that critics described as three-dimensional in quality.
He went on to study at the Newlyn
School of Painting in Cornwall
, and used many Cornish people
for his paintings and studies, such as Saunders the Postman and Gillieboo, his dog. The landscape and clarity of light in Cornwall also made an impression on his work.
, Chelsea
, although he frequently returned to visit Llandeilo. Some residents of his hometown gained national exposure through his art, as with the two members of the Edwards family featured at work in their home in 1910 in The Welsh Weavers, which was published in the United States
as well as the United Kingdom
. Visitors to his London studio included William Orpen
, John Nash (artist)
, Ethelbert White, Mr & Mrs Stanhope Forbes
, Frank Brangwyn
, Evan Walters, Sir George Clausen
and Sir Herbert Herkomer.
, where he suffered from poison gas which left him with life-long health issues. He spent twelve months in hospitals in the Isle of Wight
and Liverpool
and, as a result, he missed the great offensive of July 30, 1917 where his company Sergeant-Major Jack Williams (VC), of B Company, won the Victoria Cross
.
Morris painted during the First World War but had a limited range of colours, having lost his paint tubes during shelling at Boesinghe village. One unexpected commission during this time was to paint a landscape prominently featuring a hare
on its haunches on the lid of a coffin of village sportsman. When news of this got around the village, the whole neighbourhood came out to see the impromptu exhibition, including its intended recipient, who only then did Morris learn was still alive.
ceremony. Sir Joseph Bradney
was among the members of the Welsh squirearchy who hosted him during this time.
In Llandeilo he remained responsible for the family business and had a special interest in designing the flag which Llandeilo sent to its namesake, the town of Llandeilo in New South Wales
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
painter born in Llandeilo
Llandeilo
Llandeilo is a town in Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated at the crossing of the River Towy by the A483 on a 19th century stone bridge. Its population is 1,731.The town is served by Llandeilo railway station on the Heart of Wales Line.- Early history :...
, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
. He was related to the Welsh poet Sir Lewis Morris.
Personal background
Carey Morris was the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Boynes Morris who were an established local family and ran a house painter and decorator's business in Llandeilo. The family lived in a house on Prospect Place, which now forms part of Rhosmaen Street. He married Jessie Morris, who was the author of children's books, which he illustrated.Educational background
Morris attended the National school (England and Wales)National school (England and Wales)
A national school was a school founded in 19th century England and Wales by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education.These schools provided elementary education, in accordance with the teaching of the Church of England, to the children of the poor.Together with the less numerous...
, Llandeilo County School, and the Slade School of Art. Physician Henry Tonks
Henry Tonks
Henry Tonks, FRCS was a British draughtsman and painter of figure subjects, chiefly interiors, and a caricaturist...
was an art professor there at the time, and Morris' studies gave him a facility with anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
that later influenced his work, adding depth that critics described as three-dimensional in quality.
He went on to study at the Newlyn
Newlyn
Newlyn is a town and fishing port in southwest Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Newlyn forms a conurbation with the neighbouring town of Penzance and is part of Penzance civil parish...
School of Painting in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, and used many Cornish people
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
for his paintings and studies, such as Saunders the Postman and Gillieboo, his dog. The landscape and clarity of light in Cornwall also made an impression on his work.
Professional background
After Newlyn, he returned to London and maintained a studio on Cheyne WalkCheyne Walk
Cheyne Walk , is a historic street in Chelsea, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It takes its name from William Lord Cheyne who owned the manor of Chelsea until 1712. Most of the houses were built in the early 18th century. Before the construction in the 19th century of the busy...
, Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, although he frequently returned to visit Llandeilo. Some residents of his hometown gained national exposure through his art, as with the two members of the Edwards family featured at work in their home in 1910 in The Welsh Weavers, which was published in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as well as the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Visitors to his London studio included William Orpen
William Orpen
Major Sir William Newenham Montague Orpen, KBE, RA, RHA was an Irish portrait painter, who worked mainly in London...
, John Nash (artist)
John Nash (artist)
John Northcote Nash CBE RA was a British painter of landscape and still-life, wood-engraver and illustrator, particularly of botanic works.-Biography:...
, Ethelbert White, Mr & Mrs Stanhope Forbes
Stanhope Forbes
Stanhope Alexander Forbes R.A., , was an artist and member of the influential Newlyn school of painters...
, Frank Brangwyn
Frank Brangwyn
Sir Frank William Brangwyn RA RWS RBA was an Anglo-Welsh artist, painter, water colourist, virtuoso engraver and illustrator, and progressive designer.- Biography :...
, Evan Walters, Sir George Clausen
George Clausen
Sir George Clausen RA , was an artist working in oil and watercolour, etching, mezzotint, dry point and occasionally lithographs. He was knighted in 1927.-Biography:...
and Sir Herbert Herkomer.
First World War
During the First World War, he enlisted into the South Wales Borderers and served in the trenches of FlandersFlanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, where he suffered from poison gas which left him with life-long health issues. He spent twelve months in hospitals in the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
and Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and, as a result, he missed the great offensive of July 30, 1917 where his company Sergeant-Major Jack Williams (VC), of B Company, won the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
.
Morris painted during the First World War but had a limited range of colours, having lost his paint tubes during shelling at Boesinghe village. One unexpected commission during this time was to paint a landscape prominently featuring a hare
Hare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
on its haunches on the lid of a coffin of village sportsman. When news of this got around the village, the whole neighbourhood came out to see the impromptu exhibition, including its intended recipient, who only then did Morris learn was still alive.
Inter-war years
During the 1920s, Morris was a director of the National Eisteddfod, focusing on the arts and crafts side of the festival and writing about potential improvements of the GorseddGorsedd
A gorsedd plural gorseddau, is a community or coming together of modern-day bards. The word is of Welsh origin, meaning "throne". It is occasionally spelled gorsedh , or goursez in Brittany....
ceremony. Sir Joseph Bradney
Joseph Bradney
Colonel Sir Joseph Alfred Bradney, FSA, BA, JP, DL was a British soldier, historian and archaeologist, best known for his multivolume A History of Monmouthshire.-Life:...
was among the members of the Welsh squirearchy who hosted him during this time.
Writing
After the First World War, Morris wrote on many subjects concerning art. In his Personality as a Force in Art he wrote on the impact of mood and personality in painting. The artist's mood and personality were naturally reflected, but so were the mood of the subject, even if natural, with "[t]he power of concealing several moods in one portrait...proportionate to the genius and sympathy in the artist's own personality." Morris believed "that personality never dies. It lives on in a man's work and if it can be so alive long after his physical body is laid in the grave, is it not reasonable to suppose that the essence of his individuality is still alive? Human beings have different tasks to perform in the world; some have been destined to plan great works which have been too heavy a burden for their physical span of life, but their personalities are still alive, inspiring others to build on the foundation which they have laid. Is it not reasonable to suppose that personality 'the dweller innermost' then relives to inspire others?" He encouraged a greater acceptance of the beautiful in religious practice in Art and Religion in Wales and urged better education in craft in Craftsmanship Should Not Be Allowed to Die.In Llandeilo he remained responsible for the family business and had a special interest in designing the flag which Llandeilo sent to its namesake, the town of Llandeilo in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.