“Marie Stillman” by Maria Zambaco

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Marie Stillman

Maria Cassavetti Zambaco (1843-1914)

1886

Alloy metal

134 mm

Inscription: Marie Stillman MDCCCLXXXVI

Collection: British Museum (ref. 1887,1207.1)

Stillman and Zambaco, who modelled for (and became the mistress of) Edward Burne-Jones, were related to each other, and close friends. [Commentary continues below.]

[Click on the image to enlarge it and mouse over text for links.]

Photograph and text by Jacqueline Banerjee.

Both women were very gifted artists, as well as being much admired for their strikingly good looks (see Attwood 1893). After her affair with Burne-Jones ended, Zambaco studied sculpture under Alphonse Legros at the Slade, and exhibited some fine portrait-medallions like this at the Paris Salon. The one shown here was photographed at the "Pre-Raphaelite Sisters" exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, London, 17 October 2019 – 26 January 2020 [Review]. The gallery label suggests that the "antique medallion format of this portrait highlights their shared Greek heritage." It also suggests that the lily on the obverse reminds us that both were called after the Virgin Mary, and is a particular tribute to Marie Stillman's virtue: the words "Sine Macula" or "spotless" are inscribed here too. [Mouse over the text for links.]

Related Material

[A Review of] "Pre-Raphaelite Sisters" at the National Portrait Gallery, London, 17 October 2019 – 26 January 2020

Bibliography

Attwood, Philip. Artistic Circles: The Medal in Britain, 1880-1918. London: Trustees of the British Museum, 1992.

"Maria Zambaco (Biographical details)." British Museum. Web. 28 October 2019.

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Created 28 October 2019