Sir Edward Burne Jonesstudy For Last Sleep Of Arthur In Avalon
London, United Kingdom
£7,325 per item
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Item details
Height
22.86 cm
Width
19.05 cm
Depth
0.01 cm
Wear conditions
Good
Wear conditions
Excellent
Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.
Good
May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.
Average
Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.
Apparent Wear and Tear
Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.
Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.
Description
Graphite on paper
Image size: 7 1/2 x 9 inches (19 x 23 cm)
Carved gilt frame
Literature
Illustrated in Malcolm Bell's 'Sir Edward Burne-Jones, A Record and Review', London, 1899, p.127.
Provenance
Major Charles Sydney Goldman 1958
By descent to his Sons
John and Margaret Monck (John Goldman Monck) 1958-1963
Commander Victor Robert Penryn Monck (Victor Robert Penryn Monk Goldman) 1958-1963
Christie's London (Christie, Manson and Woods) 1963, John Monck and Cmdr Penryn Monck sale 26 April 1963 part lot 71
Sir John Richardson, 2019
Burne-Jones decided that the folds in the drapery in this study were too complex for the final painting and fairly soon after he simplified the draperies.
The work is a drapery study for the seated figures at the centre of Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones monumental The Sleep of Arthur in Avalon (Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico). The artist spent seventeen years working on the complex narrative, even moving his studio to a larger space to accommodate the canvas. Born as a commission from his patron George Howard, 9th Earl of Carlisle, to decorate a wall in his library at Naworth Castle, The Sleep of Arthur in Avalon was left unfinished in Burne-Jones’ studio upon his death. The work was bequeathed to a studio neighbour whose descendants sold it at auction in 1963, where it was purchased by Luis A. Ferré, politician and founder of the Museo de Arte de Ponce.
To his friends and family, Burne-Jones was known for his 'unpainted masterpieces'. Indeed, from his youth he made swift sketches, such as this study, that appeared effortless in contrast to his carefully crafted paintings and allowed him to work out ideas and refine details. He also drew outside of the studio, and his contemporaries remarked at his uncanny ability to do so while fully engaged in other activities. The painter W. Graham Robertson recalled; 'Once, while talking to me, he took up a little pocketbook and sketched absently as he carried on the conversation'.
The importance and role of these sketches to Burne-Jones were practical; to test out ideas and compositions directly from the mind and to use them for reference when he came to execute a final piece. Today, sketches such as this provide a useful insight to the artist's thought process as a primary source of evidence to expose gradual progression to final works.
As Burne-Jones’ work became increasing elaborate within his later compositions, so did the preparatory sketches, these exquisite and sensitive drawings were not just a compliment to the final piece, but works of art in themselves. From the 1870s onwards, Burne-Jones had an established method in the development towards a final painting. Beginning with rough exploratory sketches, he would gradually define his compositions through multiple individual sketches, isolating every detail within the scene and experimenting with various designs until he was completely satisfied with the final result.
Condition report:
Excellent
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Free collection available
Yes
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Cancellations and Returns
Last updated: 24th March 2025
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