DOI issue:
No. 38 (May, 1896)
DOI article:Studies by Sir Edward Burne-Jones
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17296#0219
Sttidies by Sir E. Burne-Jones
mined effort to acquire the mastery that was exact record. His art has gained in richness, in
wanted, a determined study of drawing. Later variety, and in subtlety, because it has gained in
pieces have had more than beautiful composition decisiveness and knowledge as well. The close
and lovely and harmonious disposition of their application which has led to the production of
parts; they have had drapery designed with hundreds of studies of figures, draperies, heads,
thorough power, and hands, feet, and of the
figure drawing showing numberless parts and
the gradual acquirement
of power." And the
progress which was to
be noted then has never
ceased. The process of
perfecting has gone on
and is still going on.
His success and popu-
larity have never induced
him to relax the strenu-
ousness of his applica-
tion ; he has remained a
student though he has
long been hailed as a
master.
Without doubt it has
been because of the
enormous amount of
labour that he has ex-
pended upon his sketches
and studies that he has
in this way grown in
capacity to execute and
power to express. While
he continued under the
restraint of uncertainty
of method his view of
Nature was necessarily
more limited and less
exact than it is now that
his production has gained
strength. In the days
when he was struggling
against the imperfections
of his experience, and
was striving to compel
his less practised hand
details of his composi-
tions, has given him a
command over himself
which enables him to
use to fullest advantage
all that is best in his
capacity. Picture paint-
ing has with him long
ceased to be a mere
matter of conventional-
ising certain delightful
but unrealisable inten-
tions ; it has instead
become the channel
through which he can
make plain to others the
fancies that fill his mind.
His imagination is no
longer fettered or
cramped by imperfec-
tions of expression ; he
needs no longer to hesi-
tate, nor is he compelled
to use an artistic peri-
phrasis to suggest his
meaning; he can say all
that he wishes in clear
and intelligible language,
in words that every
student of his works can
understand without
effort. That a certain
convention remains in
his larger pictures is the
result, not so much of
fear to attempt excur-
sions into pure realism
to set down what his as of his old desire to
more highly trained mind study for " andromeda " by sir e. burne-jones associate literal perfec-
had conceived, he had tion of detail with an
to depend upon convention to help him over absolute originality of general and pervading at-
the many difficulties that beset him in his daily mosphere.
work ; but now with the freeing of his hand has The multiplicity of the processes which he em-
come fuller realising of his intentions. He draws ploys to secure this perfecting of the details might
now as he thinks, with vigour and directness. He well seem surprising to any one who did not under-
fills his pictures with detail all of which is studied, stand the spirit in which he works. The stages
not invented because invention is easier than through which one of his canvases passes, between
204
mined effort to acquire the mastery that was exact record. His art has gained in richness, in
wanted, a determined study of drawing. Later variety, and in subtlety, because it has gained in
pieces have had more than beautiful composition decisiveness and knowledge as well. The close
and lovely and harmonious disposition of their application which has led to the production of
parts; they have had drapery designed with hundreds of studies of figures, draperies, heads,
thorough power, and hands, feet, and of the
figure drawing showing numberless parts and
the gradual acquirement
of power." And the
progress which was to
be noted then has never
ceased. The process of
perfecting has gone on
and is still going on.
His success and popu-
larity have never induced
him to relax the strenu-
ousness of his applica-
tion ; he has remained a
student though he has
long been hailed as a
master.
Without doubt it has
been because of the
enormous amount of
labour that he has ex-
pended upon his sketches
and studies that he has
in this way grown in
capacity to execute and
power to express. While
he continued under the
restraint of uncertainty
of method his view of
Nature was necessarily
more limited and less
exact than it is now that
his production has gained
strength. In the days
when he was struggling
against the imperfections
of his experience, and
was striving to compel
his less practised hand
details of his composi-
tions, has given him a
command over himself
which enables him to
use to fullest advantage
all that is best in his
capacity. Picture paint-
ing has with him long
ceased to be a mere
matter of conventional-
ising certain delightful
but unrealisable inten-
tions ; it has instead
become the channel
through which he can
make plain to others the
fancies that fill his mind.
His imagination is no
longer fettered or
cramped by imperfec-
tions of expression ; he
needs no longer to hesi-
tate, nor is he compelled
to use an artistic peri-
phrasis to suggest his
meaning; he can say all
that he wishes in clear
and intelligible language,
in words that every
student of his works can
understand without
effort. That a certain
convention remains in
his larger pictures is the
result, not so much of
fear to attempt excur-
sions into pure realism
to set down what his as of his old desire to
more highly trained mind study for " andromeda " by sir e. burne-jones associate literal perfec-
had conceived, he had tion of detail with an
to depend upon convention to help him over absolute originality of general and pervading at-
the many difficulties that beset him in his daily mosphere.
work ; but now with the freeing of his hand has The multiplicity of the processes which he em-
come fuller realising of his intentions. He draws ploys to secure this perfecting of the details might
now as he thinks, with vigour and directness. He well seem surprising to any one who did not under-
fills his pictures with detail all of which is studied, stand the spirit in which he works. The stages
not invented because invention is easier than through which one of his canvases passes, between
204