Sketchbook containing copies of illustrations in Galleria Giustiniana del Marchese Vincenzo Giustiniana, Rome, 1788, Il Museuo Pio-Clementino by Ennio Quirino Visconti, Rome, 1788, Musée des Antiques by Pierre Bouillon, Paris, 1821-7, and Dresses and Decorations of the Middle Ages... by Henry Shaw, F.S.A., London, 1834; also copies of illuminations from manuscripts, and sketches from works by Lucas Cranach, Jan van Eyck, Marcantonio Raimondi, Luca and Andrea della Robbia and Antonio Rossellino. 106 pages of white wove paper (with 12 sheets of tracing paper pasted in), quarter-bound in green leather, canvas boards, with pencil holder after 1859. Inscribed by the artist with notes, 'sketches from Antiques no original drawings by E B J' and address '4 Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Sq.' Numbered in red on front cover 'No. 19'. Pencil, watercolour. Size of volume 7 1/8 x 15 3/4 E.4-1955 Given by Dr W L Hildbergh F.S.A. (in pencil 91 D 40) Note; the twelve roundels "The Labels of the Months" by Luca dellla Robbia, The Bust of Giovanni Chellini by Antonio Rosellino and the plaque "The Assumption of the Virgin" by Andrea della Robbia are in the Department of Architecture and Sculpture nos. 7632-7643, 7671-1861 and no. 6741-1860. Marks and inscriptions 'sketches from Antiques no original drawings by E B J' Inscribed by the artist with notes and '4 Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Sq.' Inscribed with address 'No. 19' Numbered in red on front cover
Inscribed on the inside cover by Burne-Jones: .... Biston (?) 21 Kensington Sq ...... Sq CO Il Stregozzo OFT Some good black pots in Vitale(?) for Circe 4 Charlotte St Fitzroy Sq Sketches from antique no original drawings by EBJ (not in artist's hand) Top right - 1 Palace Gn P (?) Bargelligno (?) Micale (?) Typewritten list of identifications as follows:- Front cover Head of Giovanni Chellini A. Rosellino V.A.M. Page 2 Draped female figure in the Museo Capitalino, Rome. 9 Venus Socromie. Pl. 38. Vol. 1. Galleria Giustiniana... 11 From a bas-relief. Pl. 79. Vol. 2. Galleria Giustiniana... 15 From a bas-relief. Pl. 138. Vol. 2. Galleria Giustiniana... 21 Bas-relief of the three Graces with Aesculapius and Mercury Pl. 12 Vol. 1Il Museuo Pio-Clementino 23 Bas-relief on a sarcophagus showing five of the Labours of Hercules. Pl. 12. Vol.1 Il Museuo Pio-Clementino 45 Bas-relief " Joueuses d'Instruments" Pl. 21 Vol. 3. Musée des Antiques by Bouillon 61 Bas-relief on a sarcophagus "Apollo and Diana destroying the family of Niobe Pl. 17. Vol. 1 Il Museuo Pio-Clementino 67 This subject seems to be based on two paintings by Lucas Cranach, dated 1530, 1531 respectively both titled "Venus with Cupid the Honey Thief". 68-69 Angels from the Andrea della Robbia plaque "The Assumption of the Virgin", no. 6741-1860, V.A.Museum. 78 "The Labours of the Months", L. della Robbia. V.A.Museum. 81 The crown and book of the Virgin from the Altar of the Holy Lamb by Jan Van Eyck 92-93 Illustrations to Dresses and Decorations of the Middle Ages by N. Shaw. 98 Monks in Church (Bibl. Nat. Paris. MS Franc. 1198; photo Catala) From its foundation the purpose of the South Kensington Museum was to serve as a study collection, of which Burne-Jones was to take full advantage. William Morris drew upon classical narratives as the basis for stories in his book The Earthly Paradise. The apparent favourite of Burne-Jones was the story of Cupid and Psyche, which was taken from a section of The Golden Ass by Apuleius. At this time Burne-Jones was forsaking his chiefly medieval character for a classically derived style, which complemented Morris's story. This sketch book displays the determination of the artist to give authenticity to his illustrations and helped in the development of a period of neo-classicism.