This study is also known as 'The Altar of Hymen', in Morris's verse from 'The Earthly Paradise' this scene is not recounted explicitly, but rather hinted at through Galatea's own words. It shows the marriage of Pygmalion and Galatea.The composition is identical to a later gouache painting executed by Burne-Jones in 1874, bearing that name. The present location of the painting is unknown, although Bill Waters and Martin Harrison state in their 1973 book on Burne-Jones, that the painting was a wedding present for William Graham's daughter Amy. Her married monogram, 'AM' (for Amy Muir-Mackenzie) is inscribed on the bottom left of the flaming altar itself.
Pygmalion and his bride embrace in the foreground by the lit altar. Behind sits Venus enthroned, an apple in her right hand, and Cupid standing between her knees. (See picture in the New Gallery, painted in 1974for the wedding of Miss Amy Graham and Mr. Kenneth Muir-Mackenzie.) Drawwn about 1867-8. Three frames of eleven pencil designs for wood blocks, on tracing paper. Drawn for an illustrated edition of “The Earthly Paradise”, never carried out. “A man of Cyprus, named Pygmalion, made an image of a woman fairer than any that had yet been seen, and in the end came to love his own handiwork as though it had been alive; wherefore, praying to Venus for help, he obtained his end, for she made the image alive indeed, and a Woman, and Pygmalion wedded her.” – The Earthly Paradise.