A Seated Couple, Embracing

Sir Edward Burne-Jones

ca. 1865 · White chalk with touches of graphite · Drawings and Prints

Burne-Jones likely made this drawing in the mid-1860s when he was sketching the Parthenon marbles at the British Museum, using chalks on colored paper. While a student at Oxford, Burne-Jones and his close friend William Morris decided to give up their theology degrees and instead pursue artistic careers. Since he lacked formal training, Burne-Jones sought advice from Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Ruskin--who lent him prints by Albrecht Dürer to copy--and George Frederic Watts, who advised close study of classical sculpture. Here he develops a figural composition from his interaction with Greek models.

Artist

Sir Edward Burne-Jones

Date

ca. 1865

Medium

White chalk with touches of graphite

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore P. Donahue, 1997