Victorian TapestryWall TapestriesWilliam Morris Tapestry

New William Morris Tapestry – Woodpecker II and III

Announcing two brand new William Morris Woodpecker tapestries just released!

William Morris Woodpecker tapestry image

See William Morris Woodpecker II Tapestry here

These William Morris tapestries are variations of the Woodpecker tapestry that is a unique work of art.
See the whole range of William Morris tapestries here.
The original, is in fact, closest to the one above with the cyan acanthus leaves.
The mix of blue with green in the rendition of leaves is a popular move among artists not only from the Victorian age.
It is also from the 17th century French era where verdure tapestries used blue greens to add a dimension of subtle color to foliage, which in reality is a mixture of yellow greens and blue greens.
You can read more about decorating with William Morris tapestries in our previous post here.
This work, Woodpecker is unique in that it is one of the rare works by Morris and Co that is totally designed by William Morris himself.
Other works were collaborations between Morris and Dearle, but this work was his own work.

William Morris Woodpecker tapestry

See “Woodpecker III” Tapestry here

The legend behind the tapestry Woodpecker is a fable or story where the Italian King Picus was transformed into a woodpecker by Circe, so that she could keep him in her forests forever, as she was jealous of his faithful love for his wife.
The story is from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and Morris expanded the specific verse of Picus into a poem from which inspired this tapestry.
Such is the inspiration of Morris works, often from classic works, classic fables, or classic principles. The poem reads “once a king and chief, now am the tree-barks thief, ever twixt trunk and leaf, chasing the prey.”
Written in 8 AD, the 12,000 line poem is one of the largest sources of legends and tales that has survived to the 21st century including Apollo and Daphne and Pyramus and Thisbe.
The overall theme of the work is change or transformation and change.

William Morris Woodpecker tapestry image

See William Morris Woodpecker here

In this tale, there are gods changing forms and changing of humans to other forms including the woodpecker in this tale. It was a great tale, inspiring great tapestries by Morris.
This is where art often comes from – from other works of art.
And his unique design inspires anyone who looks upon it.
William Morris tapestries draws from many legends, and are distinctive in their superb detail as well as sense of movement from his love of foliage.
If you’re looking for beautiful tapestries to decorate any room, with unique art, then see this entire collection of William Morris tapestries and wall hangings here.

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