£3,250
Auction: Design Since 1860
watercolour, original mount and frame, signed and dated lower right J. H. DEARLE 1917
Provenance: Property from an Important Private Collection
Note: John Henry Dearle is best known for his superlative work as head of design at Morris & Company. Dearle began his career with the firm as a shop assistant at 449 Oxford Street in 1878. Morris recognized Dearle's talents as a draftsman and took him on as his tapestry apprentice, eventually allowing him to create fabric details and floral backgrounds for many of his designs. They opened a tapestry workshop at Queen Square shortly after and by 1890, at the age of 31, Dearle was appointed Head Textile Designer of the firm, responsible for handling the company's commissions for house decorative schemes. After Morris's death in 1896, Dearle became art director of Morris & Co. and produced many of the firms most celebrated works.