A traced design for a series of four paintings based on an episode from William Morris' cycle of epic poems, 'The Earthly Paradise'. The first series is currently in the collection of Lord Lloyd-Webber, the second series are in Birmingham's collection. Several things differ in this preliminary drawing from its counterparts in oil. The sculptural group behind Pygmalion to the right: this drawing depicts three nude men and one draped woman. In the 'Heart Desires' in both oil versions, this sculptural grouping are all nude women (although in series one, there are four women; in Birmingham's version, only three). In the left background, there are only two women walking past Pygmalion's studio in the oil versions, and no figure on the steps. Overall, this preliminary drawing is clearly the compositional basis for the later oil versions of the same subject. Bequeathed by James Richardson Holliday, 1927.
This drawing is a resolved version for the woodcut which was to have been an illustration to the story in Morris's The Earthly Paradise. The design was altered in preparation for the painting Pygmalion,The Heart Desires in the first series of paintings. Manuscript illustrations from fol. 116v Le roman de la rose Shelfmark: Bodleian Library MS. Douce 195 Holding Institution: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford Date Statement: 15th century, end Place of Origin: France Language: French, Middle (ca. 1400-1600) Catalogue Description: Catalogue of Western Medieval Manuscripts in Oxford Libraries Author: Guillaume de Lorris Jean de Meun Burne-Jones and Morris visited the Bodleian library to look at manuscripts while they were students, so that from an early age they were aware of this script. The group of models shown in the background of Burne-Jones's design, had their origin in the group of sculpted figures that appear in this illustration from Le roman de la rose held in the Bodleian library.
Pygmalion in his studio. As in the picture, he desires some beauty greater than be found in his own work of the Cypriot maidens. 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.