Burne-Jones is associated with both
the Pre Raphaelite-Brotherhood, whom he admired tremendously in his early
years, and also with the Arts and Crafts Movement. He was a pre-eminent artist
in the field of stained glass, and also a founder member, with William Morris,
or Morris’ decorative arts firm. As well as his own paintings, and his work in
the field of stained glass and of design, Burne-Jones also illustrated a number
of works for Morris’ Kelmscott Press. In this illustration, copied from an
illustration of the Kelmscott’s Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, Burne-Jones’
distinctive almost medieval style is a perfect match for the subject matter.
Burne-Jones was very influential on
the next generation of artists and illustrators in England as well. The teenage
Aubrey Beardsley made a speculative visit to Burne-Jones’ home, and showed him
sone of his sketches. Burne-Jones allegedly told him that he was not in the
habit of advising young people to become artists, but he had no choice but to
do so in Beardsley’s case. Quite right too. In the 1890s he became something of
a pillar of the establishment, being made a Baronet (A baronetcy is a
hereditary knighthood – an ordinary knighthood passes away on the death of the
recipient.)
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