ABSTRACT
William Morris and his associates produced some of most remarkable stained glass of the nineteenth century. This chapter explores the nature of the firm's work in the context of other stained-glass studios and, through focused analysis of a relatively small number of windows, points to areas of potential for future scholarship. Methodological problems inherent in studying stained glass are explored though analysis of three early commissions, followed by a more general discussion on how we can understand the more deeply embedded nature of Morris's influence on the later windows. All accounts of the Morris firm are dominated by A. C. Sewter's Stained Glass of William Morris and his Circle, which established an authoritative and comprehensive body of information about the windows. William Morris and his associates set out to redefine the role of the artist within stained-glass manufacture, and early commissions such as Selsley and the east window of Middleton Cheney celebrate the diversity of individual artistic contributions.
