History made simple

摘要

Such a mesmerising exhibition! Such wonderful objects! But such simplified art history! This is supposed to be an exhibition about arts and crafts. That is undemanding enough when examined within its most basic English context but becomes more complicated when given an international dimension. The big names are well established. John Ruskin is the prophet, laying the foundation with his dogmatic texts on honesty in labour; and William Morris is the messiah, creating workshops with craftsmen printing leafy patterns and knocking out homely chests and settles for 'good citizens'.