This was Burne-Jones's only published design for the Illustrated Bible. projected by the engravers George and Eddward Dlziel in the 1860s. The scheme was inspired by Schnorr von Carolfeld's celebrated Bible in Pictures, published in England in 1860. many artists contributed, including leighton, Madox Brown, Poynter, Simeon Solomon, Boyd Houghton, and G F Watts. The project came to nothing at this time, but designs made for it were published as Dlaziel's Bible Gallery in 1880. Burne-Jones made several designs for the Bible, probably in 1863. The present subject was presumably chosen because he had already treated it as a pen and ink drawing two years before (no. 254 [Burne-Jones 1975]). He did, however, adapt the composition, making Ezekiel kneel ingstead of stand and giving more promonence to the group of pleasure-loving Israelites in the background. A group of sketches in the Tate Gallery (4353) was evidently made during the processn of adaption. For another study, see no. 339 [Burne-Jones 1975].
Print entitled 'The Parable Of The Boiling Pot', after a drawing by E. Burne-Jones, from a volume entitled 'Dalziels' Bible Gallery', consisting of 62 plates after drawings by various artists, engraved by the Dalziel Brothers. Great Britain, 1881. Wood engraving depicting a scene from the Bible. Each mount lettered with title and name of artist responsible for original drawing. Most plates lettered 'Dalziel Sc.' and some lettered with artists' initials or monograms and dated.