In 1867 Burne-Jones made twelve designs in illustration of the version by William Morris in 'The Earthly Paradise' of Ovid's tale of Pygmalion from the 'Metamorphoses'. This relates how Pygmalion, a celebrated sculptor of Cyprus, fell in love with a statue of a maiden, which he had himself made. His prayers to Venus were so earnest that the goddess consented to change the statue into a living woman. They married, the former statue now called Galatea, and became the parents of Paphus, who founded the city of that name in Cyprus. Burne-Jones painted in oils, 1868-78, two series of four pictures each, illustrating the story of Pygmalion and the Image, the second series which are now in BMAG, 1903P23-26 [The first series is now in the collection of Lord Lloyd- Webber].In this drawing, Pygmalion stands on the left, beside his bed, gazing up at his statue of a young woman, which stands in a niche on the right.
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.