William Morris famously said, “Whatever you have in your rooms, think first of the walls, for they are that which makes a house a home.” Working on prestigious commissions for George Frederick Bodley and William Morris, decorative artist David Parr spent many years decorating the finest churches and grandest homes in the country. In his precious spare time, he painted the walls of his own home with designs inspired by those he had worked on professionally, adapting them to create his own palace of art at 186 Gwydir Street. This talk explores the inspirations behind David’s wall paintings.
Fiona’s talk will be followed by a Q&A discussion. Light refreshments will be provided.
Please note: this talk is in-person, limited to 20 people and does not include a tour of the house.
All money raised from talks and events at David Parr House goes towards maintaining the house and collection. Thank you for supporting us.
About Fiona Rose:
Fiona Rose has been lecturing about topics she feels passionately about since 2010 with a special interest in William Morris and his circle. She is an accredited lecturer for The Arts Society and founded and runs a home interiors business featuring the work of the great C19th designers such as Morris, Dearle, Voysey and Mackintosh. Fiona is a member of the Museum Collections & Display committee for The William Morris Society, where she served as a Trustee, as well as a regular contributor to the Society’s Magazine and a book reviewer for the Journal of William Morris Studies. In 2023 she assisted the Society with the planning, organisation, and funding of a major exhibition about Morris & Co. designer John Henry Dearle. Fiona is a volunteer House Guide and specialist lecturer for the David Parr House in Cambridge.
Facilities
- Assistance dogs welcome
- Blue badge parking
- wheelchair access
Accessibility Facilities
- Assistance dogs welcome
- Blue Badge Parking
- Staff available to assist
- Wheel chair accessible
