(1845 - 1915)
Walter Crane was the son of portrait painter Thomas Crane. At 13 he was apprenticed to a wood engraver. He began exhibiting at the Royal Academy at 16. Crane failed to gain recognition for his paintings, becoming better known for children’s book illustrations and designs for wallpapers, tiles and textiles. Influenced by William Morris, he joined the Social Democratic Federation in 1884. He was a founder member of the Art-Workers’ Guild and helped establish the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, serving as its President. In 1891-92, a retrospective of his work toured the US. He became Director of Design at the Manchester School of Art (1893) and Principal of the Royal College of Art (1898). He died in 1915, shortly after his wife’s suicide.
