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Watercolour - The Merciful Knight

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© Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

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Basic Information

Accession Number:1973P84
Collection:Fine Art Prints and Drawings
Date:1863 - 1863

Maker Information

Artist:Sir Edward Burne-Jones - View biography for Sir Edward Burne-Jones

Notes

This is arguably Burne-Jones's most important early work. In the memorial biography of her husband, Georgiana Burne-Jones stated that it seemed: 'to sum up and seal the ten years that had passed since Edward first went to Oxford'.

In terms of design, technique and expression, the picture demonstrates that Burne-Jones had reached a new and more personal style. It remained Burne-Jones's own favourite among his early works and in 1894 he tried to borrow it to make a large oil version.

The subject is taken from the life of the Florentine knight St John Gualberto, founder of the Valombrosan Order in 1039, who was miraculously embraced by a wooden figure of Christ while praying at a wayside shrine after forgiving the murder of his kinsman. This obscure legend was unlikely to be familiar to a wide audience and this further enhanced its mystical and intensely poetic quality. Incidentally, the marigolds in the foreground came from the 'town garden' in Russell Square, close to Burne-Jones's house opposite the British Museum.

Purchased, 1973.

Further Information

Production Period:19th century
Medium:Watercolour with bodycolour on paper.
Material(s):Watercolour

Dimensions

Height:1014 mm
Width:586 mm