Damsels In Distress: Launcelot and Guenevere

Guinevere A'Maying by John Collier

Bulfinch returned; now he was wearing medieval jousting armor instead of his banker’s wools. He explained to me the story of how Sir Launcelot remained the queen’s lover, his forswearing after his failed quest for the Sangreal notwithstanding.

Guinevere (or La Belle Iseult) by William Morris:

He intimated that there had been a plot instigated against him by the rumors of Mordred and his half-brother Sir Agrivaine, to entrap Launcelot while he was with the queen.

It was their last hour - Emma Florence Harrison, illustration to Guinevere by Tennyson

Launcelot escaped but the queen was caught and put to trial and then sentenced to burn for her crime. He then told of how Guenever was rescued. Placing one leg upon a stone he declaimed:

Then when Sir Launcelot had thus done, and slain and put to flight all that would withstand him, then he rode straight unto Dame Guenever, and made a kirtle and a gown to be cast upon her; and then he made her to be set behind him, and prayed her to be of good cheer. Wit you well the queen was glad that she was escaped from the death. And then she thanked God and Sir Launcelot; and so he rode his way with the queen, as the French book saith, unto Joyous Gard, and there he kept her as a noble knight should do; and many great lords and some kings sent Sir Launcelot many good knights, and many noble knights drew unto Sir Launcelot.

Lancelot in the Queen's Chamber by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

This was not, of course, the end of the story. But that was all Bulfinch had for me that day. I spun around three times to find myself back in my own time. So putting on my running shoes with dove wings, I began to write this report.

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Image Credits: Victorian and Preraphaelite Art, Emma Florence Harrison

William Morris Tile

William Morris Tile : First Tiles

William Morris Flowerpot

The first Morris & Co designs were intended to be implemented as tiles. Some tile designs, such as this flowerpot design, were later adapted for stained glass or textiles. This flower pot tile, designed by William Morris himself, and implemented as an embroidered pillow by his daughter, May Morris, was one of his early designs tile.

For some time, I’ve been working in overdrive on a long-deferred project to make tiles in William Morris designs. The underlying stone is Boticcino marble. The marble has natural variations that can be seen in the white space of the design.