An Exciting Discovery in William Morris's Red House

It began as an attempt to restore one blurry image that had been hidden for a century behind a large built-in wardrobe on William Morris's bedroom wall.

Photograph: Linda Nylind

From 1860 -1865 William Morris, the founder of the Arts and Crafts Movement lived at Red House, sometimes described as "the most beautiful house in the world", now owned by Britain's National Trust. Conservation work on an area behind a cupboard has revealed an entire wall  painting.

The mural is believed to be the joint work of famous pre-Raphaelite artists Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, his wife Elizabeth Siddal, Ford Madox Brown and Morris. It depicts Biblical characters: the figures of Adam and Eve (with the serpent), Noah (holding a miniature ark), Rachel and Jacob (with a ladder) and is designed to resemble a hanging tapestry with the illusion of folds.

I've always wanted to visit Red House. I will definitely take the trip next time I'm in London.

More at this link and The Guardian