Burne-Jones first met Val Princep (1838-1904) in July 1857 when he was taken to Little Holland House by Rossetti. The following Autumn Princep was at work with Burne-Jones and the others on the Oxford Union murals which consolidated their friendship. In 1859 the two went together on Burne-Jones's first trip to Italy. Princep was known for his tall stature and strength, sometimes carrying the slight figure of Burne-Jones around under his arm. He was a pupil of G F Watts , and became a friend of Whistler, Poynter and Du Maurier whilst studying in Paris.. He became an establishment figure and Professor of Painting at the Royal Academy for 1901.