Morris in Painting

Save Heritage and Morris has diligently trawled through galleries, museums and private collections across the globe (OK, quick Google search) to discover images that reveal the astonishing truth of the early history of the Morris. Pull back the curtains of the mists of time and see what has been revealed in these paintings and images from long, long ago.

STONE AGE MORRIS

Early Stone Age Fieldtown performance. Notice the position of the hands and the rudimentary tankards held at the waist.

STONE AGE SQUIRE'S ROUND

Surprising (or not) how many hands go up to volunteer to get the pints in when it’s the Squire’s round. A very handy reminder from our Stone Age ancestors.

DEPRESSION IN THE STONE

Just because the dance hasn’t gone right there’s no need to take it out on the newest member. Now everyone’s feeling miserable.

EGYPTIAN MORRIS PRACTICE

Younger dancers watch on as some older members try to remember how the stick clashing goes. Some hope! The search for a dropped contact lens (casualty of some rather haphazard stick waving) continues in the background.

EGYPTIAN FOOLS AND BEASTS

Another time, another place and yet another Fools and Beasts Unconvention with a singing workshop. Some excellent head masks but shame they couldn't get a live musician and had to rely on the old Egyptian wind-up gramophone.

GREEK MORRIS

Although it's useful to keep one's eye on the musician during the dance it's important not forget that you've a stick in your hand. This Greek dancer seems to have forgotten that basic rule, and has jabbed his stick into a fellow dancer

GREEK MORRIS FEAST

The positions may be different (ie lying down rather than sitting) but typical Morris feast behaviour in action here at the Greek apres Morris event.

GREEK POSER AND THE FOOD OF LOVE

Join a Morris side and you'll have all the girls swooning over you. Well, forgetting your kit is one way of making an impression, but not sure that grabbing the tabor player's baps when she is playing is quite the done thing.

ANCIENT GREEK MORRIS JIG

Only halfway through the jig and already the baldrick appears to be slipping and it looks like the musician is about to cock it up!

ETRUSCAN BORDER MORRIS

Despite the rather revealing costume these Etruscan border dancers are giving it their all. Looking at this minimal kit perhaps the practice of disguising their faces was so that their 'members' wouldn't be recognised?

ROMAN BAGMAN'S NOTICES

Unusually in this depiction of ‘Bagman’s notices’ at least one person seems to be paying attention and scrolling through her diary. More conventionally the character in red has her head in her hand and is looking bored. Less conventionally she has someone else’s head in her other hand.

CHINESE WHISTLER

Just when you think you’ve got the balance of music right along comes another whistler with his drummer friend!

JAPANESE SENSAI (FOREMAN)

This Japanese Sensai (Foreman) can’t believe how badly the side are executing the hook legs despite all his careful teaching over winter. "For goodness sake, it’s only two weeks till the first dance out of the season and just look at you shower!"

BYZANTINE KIT INSPECTION

Kit inspection in Byzantine Syria. The eagle-eyed squire has spotted one member who appears to have lost his hands in the folds of his kit. It seems that a lack of suitable footwear and over-elaborate kit has always been a problem in Morris dancing.

CAROLINGIAN DISHARMONY

An early attempt to bring together different Morris organisations results in some rather unseemly fighting between men's and women's groups. Only 1200 years to wait for JMO.

FLEMISH 14TH CENTURY MORRIS

"Look, we'll all wear bells on our heads and then do really fancy steps with our feet". Another strange kit decision but at least the lines are good.

ANIMALS FROM RUTLAND PSALTER

Sometimes, when you're out dancing, the beasts and fools totally steal the show. I suppose they have worked hard to make an impression here but surely the Morris is about the dancing, isn't it?

MEDIEVAL MORRIS MUSICIANS

Well, I think they're paying attention to what the dancers are doing but not looking too happy about it. Lute face obviously preceded melodeon face. However, trying to keep any kind of expression while trying out your 'two whistle' trick is probably impossible.

DUTCH MORRIS 14TH CENTURY

It was obviously much warmer in Holland in the 14th Century. Note the method of using a central figure and curved fencing to ensure that the 'rounds' are 'round'! It doesn't seem likely that three musicians require a conductor so there is some speculation as to the role of the central figure. Probably the foreman trying out a new dance he's just discovered in his Morris book. He's obviously given up trying to fix his baldric. Mind you the dancers seemed to have dispensed with kit completely.

SUMERIAN RUSHCART

Whoever realised that rushcart processions were that old? Eat your hearts out Saddleworth and Moulton! However, although it appears the Sumerians are cheating by getting horses to pull the carts, you can plainly see this is a 'wind up'. Clockwork horses??? Whatever next.