Minstrel with Cymbals, by May Morris (1862-1938). Embroidery of 1885. H 29 x W 13.5 cm. Collection: Kelmscott House, London, accession no. T95. Image credit: William Morris Society. Reproduced here via Art UK, under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial licence (CC BY-NC). [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
Musician angels were so popular in church design, especially in stained glass but also in embroidered banners. Harps were more usual than cymbals, but in this case the design is clearly based on one of William Morris's windows: an example can be seen in All Saints, Putney. However, this is a wingless, secular version. A delicate rather than a radiant figure, she stands against a background of typically Morris-like foliage, apparently growing on an orange tree, with many small fruits appearing. Winsome, her hair loose and blown back, she is indeed like the angel that May's father designed; but she is also reminiscent of a less substantial, more whimsical figure from the hand of Walter Crane. The pale shades of cream and green are modulated with great refinement, outlined with contrastingly dark stitching, and the texture and folds of the underskirt, with its patterned border, are beautifully realised. The tiling detail harmonises perfectly with the whole composition.
Bibliography
Minstrel with Cymbals. Art UK. Web. 20 February 2026.
Minstrel with Cymbals. Arts and Crafts Hammersmith. Web. 20 February 2026.
Created 20 February 2026