George Frederic Watts (1817–1904), Portrait of Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898), between 1869 and 1870, oil on canvas, 64.8 x 52.1 cm. © Birmingham Museums Trust (1920P91)

Sir Edward Burne Jones, peintre et dessinateur préraphaélite anglais, est né le 17 juin 1898 à Birmingham.

Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1873 - 1877), The Beguiling of Merlin, 1873 - 1877. Oil on canvas, 186.7 cm x 110.5 cm. Purchased by William Hesketh Lever for the Lady Lever Art Gallery in 1918. Lady Lever Art Gallery (LL 3121) © National Museums Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery / Art UK

This story is taken from Arthurian Legend, which was the artist’s favourite subject. Merlin had fallen in love with Nimue (also called Nimiane, Vivian or Vivien). She profited from his infatuation by learning his skills in enchantment. Here she is shown sending Merlin into a deep sleep. 

The intensity and close relationship between the two figures may be read as a reflection of the artist’s own private life. In the 1860s, Burne-Jones had become infatuated with one of his admirers, Mary Zambaco - a member of the Ionides family who were important patrons of contemporary art in 19th-century London. They remained close during the early 1870s. 

The viewer is entranced by the long sinuous lines of Nimue’s figure and the hawthorn trees behind, just as they entranced Merlin and contemporaries of Burne-Jones. The writer, Oscar Wilde, described the work as being ‘full of magic’.

Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1873 - 1877), The Tree of Forgiveness, 1873 - 1877. Oil on canvas, 195.5 cm x 106.7 cm. Purchased by William Hesketh Lever for the Lady Lever Art Gallery in 1918. Lady Lever Art Gallery (LL 3635) © National Museums Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery / Art UK

This large oil painting illustrates a classical legend, Phyllis and Demophoön. After the conquest of Troy, Demophoön, the son of Theseus, stayed at the court of the King of Thrace. Phyllis, the King’s daughter, fell in love with the visitor. Demophoön agreed to marry Phyllis but first returned to Attica to sort out his affairs. However, he was away so long that Phyllis lost hope of his return and in a fit of anguish killed herself. The gods took pity on her and turned her into an almond tree. When Demophoön eventually returned he was filled with remorse and embraced the almond tree. Immediately the tree blossomed and Phyllis emerged to forgive her lover.