Portrait of Crane by G.F. Watts. [Click on the image for more iformation.]
In his later years, theoretical writing became an important part of his output. He joined the Socialist League in 1883 and produced many designs for the working class movement. He was also the first president of the Art Workers' Guild in 1884, and president of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society between 1888 and 1890. This involvement in the Art and Crafts movement led to a number of works on the history and theory of design such as Ideals in Art (1905), The Bases of Design (1898) and Line and Form (1900). His Reminiscences appeared in 1907 and an exhibition covering all aspects of his career was held at the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester in 1989. — Hilary Morgan
Biographical Material
- Introduction, by Hilary Morgan
- Walter Crane, RWS (1845-1915): A Brief Biography, by Dennis T. Lanigan
- Walter Crane on his childhood and early influences
- Walter Crane on his first paintings
- 13 Holland Street, Walter Crane's home in Kensington
- Portrait of Crane by G.F. Watts
- Portrait of Crane by William Rothenstein
Writings — Poetry
- “The Sirens Three” (a 39-page illustrated poem in the form of illuminated pages)
- “Thoughts in a Hammock” (a 5-page illustrated poem in the form of illuminated pages)
- “Rondeau” (a 1-page illustrated poem in the form of an illuminated page)
- “A Herald of Spring” (a 4-page illustrated poem in the form of illuminated pages)
Writings — Criticism and Art Theory
Work in the Visual Arts
- Paintings and watercolors
- Drawings
- Postcards
- Book Illustration
- Sculpture and decorative panels
- Stained-glass
- Wallpaper
- Imperial Federation Map
Bibliography of Books by Crane
An Artist's Reminiscences. London, Methuen & company, 1907.
The Bases of Design. London: G. Bell and Sons, 1909.
The Claims of Decorative Art. Lawrence and Bullen, 1892.
Flora's Feast: A Masque of Flowers Penned & Pictured by Walter Crane. London: Cassell, 1892.
Of the Decorative Illustration of Books Old and New. London: G. Bell, 1896.
Secondary Materials
Morgan, Hilary and Peter Nahum. Burne-Jones, The Pre-Raphaelites and Their Century. London: Peter Nahum, 1989.
Spencer, Isobel. Walter Crane. New York: Macmillan, 1975.
Created 9 January 2021
Last modified 14 November 2025