Drawing Room, Kelmscott House, illustration to Mackail's 'Life of Morris'

One of a number of drawings made by New to illustrate John William Mackail's 'Life of William Morris' published by Longmans, Green & Co. 1899. Mackail was Edward Burne-Jones’s son-in-law and knew William Morris personally. He interviewed various colleagues and associates of Morris when compiling his official biography.

This illustration shows the large drawing Room at Kelmscott House, Morris’s home in Hammersmith. His ‘bird’ woven textile is hanging on the walls and various rugs cover the floors. The furniture includes a medieval style settle and sussex chairs, kelmscott press books can be seen on the table in the foreground.