Study for the figure of Perseus; for the painting 'The Rock of Doom' by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt ARA 1933-1898

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Study for the figure of Perseus; for the painting 'The-Rock of Doom'

Study for the figure of Perseus; for 'The Rock of Doom'

Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt ARA (1833-1898)

c.1875-6

Black and purple chalk over pencil

10 1/2 x 6 inches, 27 X 15 cm

Provenance: Mrs J.W. Mackall, the artist's daughter

Exhibited: The New Gallery 1888. Number 53; the Arts Council 1975. Number 169.

Related Material

Study of Perseus's armor

Sketch of Andromenda

The Rock of Doom

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Commentary by Hilary Morgan

This study is for the figure of Perseus in 'The Rock of Doom'. In the finished painting the figure is armoured (see number 59, plate 42) creating a dramatic contrast with the nude figure of Andromeda. After the mid 1860s Burne-Jones made preliminary nude studies of all his figures, which was standard academic practice. He may have been encouraged in this by George Frederic Watts about whom lie wrote, 'compelled me to try and draw better' (Arts Council of Great Britain, 1975).

The raised left arm in this study relates to Burne-Jones's final conception of the figure as it appears ill the oil painting of 1885-1888, which was exhibited in the New Gallery in 1888 (Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart). The drawing also shows the smooth modelling typical of Burne-Jones's work ill the 1880s.

Bibliography

Arts Council of Great Britain 1975. Burne-Jones (catalogue of the exhibition by John Christian). Number 344.

Morgan, Hilary and Nahum, Peter. Burne-Jones, The Pre-Raphaelites and Their Century. London: Peter Nahum, 1989. Catalogue number 58.

Last modified 2 January 2002