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The best work of artists, poets, and scientists is never paid for, nor can the value of toil in these fields be ever measured in terms of money. “The largest quantity of work,” our economist declares, “will not be done by this curious engine (the Soul) for pay, or under pressure. qxp 10/16/2008 12:04 PM Page 35 well only when it is done with a will and that no man has a thoroughly sound will unless he has character and is contented, knowing he is what he should be and is in his place; could this higher ideal of labour be generally accepted and acted upon, then would the battle between those who have and those who have not be speedily ended.

A scheme had been designed for the mural decoration of the hall, staircase, and drawing room, upon various parts of which work went on intermittently for several years. The walls of the spacious and finely proportioned staircase were to be completely covered with paintings in tempera of Charles F. A. Voysey, The Glenmure, Donegal carpet, 1903. Kidderminster’s Carpet Heritage, Kidderminster. Charles F. A. Voysey, The Donnemara (signature Donegal Carpets design). 2 cm. Private collection. scenes from the War of Troy, to be designed and executed by Burne-Jones.

Practicing painting under the Pre-Raphaelite Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s direction, experimenting in mural decoration on the walls of the Oxford Union Society, feeling his way in various arts and handicrafts, preparing also The Defence of Guinevere for publication, here was evidence of a splendid general culture, which, when specialised, was destined to accomplish grand results. In 1859 and 1860 Morris and Philip Webb, just out of the architect’s office, built the famous Red House in an orchard and meadow plot near London, carrying out in practice for the first time their theories of domestic building and decoration.