Dimensions 1) 18.6 x 12.2 cm; 2) 25.5 x 19 cm; 3) 20.5 x 19.4 cm; 4) 41.3 x 30.5 cm; 5) 27.8 x 37.3 cm Burne-Jones met Helen Mary (May) Gaskell in 1892 and the pair began a close but platonic friendship. They corresponded up to five times a day and May became the recipient of some of the artist's most intimate letters, many of them illustrated. Burne-Jones also wrote illustrated letters to Gaskell's young daughter, Daphne. This collection comprises five albums of these remarkable letters, including two containing the illustrated correspondence. The illustrations for May feature a cast of characters, including the artist himself and the fat lady, who undertake a series of adventures. The letters to Daphne in the second illustrated album feature delightful drawings of birds, animals and other creatures of the artists own invention. In 1939, May Gaskell bequeathed her collection of Burne-Jones drawings to the Ashmolean.
Album of illustrated letters to Mrs Helen Mary ('May') Gaskell WA2015.68 1. Young boy in profile (self-portrait) graphite on buff coloured headed writing paper WA2015.68.72 2. Portrait of a Woman in profile graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.70 3. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress lying on a leaf pen and ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.1 4. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress ascending a staircase pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.2 5. Illustrated letter with a fat woman accompanied by a man, both in evening dress pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.3 6. Illustrated letter with a fat woman manoeuvring the train of her dress pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.4 7. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress making a low bow pen and ink and wash on blue off-white paper with some inscriptions in graphite WA2015.68.6 8. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress holding a glove pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.5 9. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress pointing at a painting with her fan pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.7 10. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress asleep on a sofa pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.8 11. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress asleep in a hammock pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.9 12. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress holding a fan pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.10 13. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress holding a fan pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.11 14. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress dancing and holding a fan pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.12 15. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress stooping to pick up her fan pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.13 16. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress walking towards a bathroom pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white paper WA2015.68.14 17. Illustrated letter with a fat woman coming out of a bathroom wrapped in a large towel pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.15 18. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress entering a bath room pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.16 19. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress dancing while holding a fan pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.17 20. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress dancing pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white paper WA2015.68.18 21. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress dancing and holding a fan pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white paper WA2015.68.19 22. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress dancing pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white paper WA2015.68.20 23. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress playing the piano pen and ink on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.21 24. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress revealing her ankle pen and ink and wash on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.22 25. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress holding a fan pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.23 26. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress holding a fan pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.24 27. A fat woman in evening dress holding a fan pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on blue paper WA2015.68.25 28. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress holding a fan pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.26 29. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in evening dress holding a fan on the arm of a nude hairy sprite pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white paper WA2015.68.27 30. Illustrated letter with a prancing nude hairy sprite pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite on off-white paper WA2015.68.28 31. An owl on a branch pen and ink over indications in graphite on buff paper WA2015.68.29 32. A phlumbudge graphite on off-white paper WA2015.68.30 33. Illustrated menu pen and black ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.31.1 An illustrated menu sent to Beaumont House in Lancaster, to Helen Mary (‘May’) Gaskell, who Burne-Jones met in 1892 and with whom he maintained an intimate friendship until his death in 1898, declaring that May ‘reached the well of loneliness that is in me’. While many of letters are intensely private and deeply emotional, Burne-Jones also composed more light-hearted, illustrated letters, filled with humour and entertaining caricatures. May and Burne-Jones agreed that they would destroy their correspondence but while Burne-Jones destroyed May’s letters, she secretly kept his and bequeathed them to her younger daughter, Daphne saying ‘you who knew him will understand that they are so precious and tender and wise and witty, but not for the eye of the scoffer, or…the casual reader’. 34. Illustrated menu pen and black ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.31.2 35. Illustrated letter with pig wearing a garland graphite and pen and blue headed writing paper with a black border WA2015.68.32.1 36. Pig wearing a garland graphite on blue writing paper WA2015.68.32.2 37. Illustrated letter with the head and shoulders of a woman in profile pen and black ink on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.33 38. Seven pigs lying in the middle of a street graphite on off-white paper WA2015.68.35 39. Two pigs lying in a field graphite on blue paper WA2015.68.36 40. Pig in profile wearing a garland graphite on blue headed writing paper with a black border WA2015.68.37 41. Illustrated letter with two pigs graphite on cream writing paper WA2015.68.38 42. A pig and a piglet in a field with a church in the distance graphite on off-white paper WA2015.68.39 43. Two pigs graphite on blue paper WA2015.68.40 44. Pig lying on its side graphite on blue paper WA2015.68.41 45. Illustrated letter with a fat woman on the beach at Rottingdean looking out to sea black chalk and pen and black ink on blue paper WA2015.68.42 46. Illustrated letter with a fat woman on the beach at Rottingdean with her hat blowing away in the wind black chalk and pen and black ink on blue paper WA2015.68.43 47. Illustrated letter with a fat woman on the beach at Rottingdean with her arms above her head black chalk and pen and black ink on blue paper WA2015.68.44 48. Letter accompanying illustrations of a fat woman in bath pen and black ink on blue paper WA2015.68.45.1 49. Illustrated letter with bathroom door pen and black ink on blue paper WA2015.68.45.2 50. Illustrated letter with a fat woman in the bath pen and black ink on blue paper WA2015.68.45.3 51. Illustrated letter with a fat woman drying herself with a towel black chalk and pen and ink on cream paper WA2015.68.45.4 52. Illustrated letter with the figure of a mower pen and black ink over indications in graphite on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.46.1 53. Illustrated letter with the figure of a gentleman in a top hat with a cane pen and black ink over indications in graphite on blue writing paper WA2015.68.46.2 54. Illustrated letter with four men in armchairs behind reading newspapers (The Athenaeum) pen and black ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.47 55. Dancing woman graphite on off-white paper WA2015.68.48 56. Envelope with a bird pen and black ink on part of a blue envelope WA2015.68.49 57. Caricature of May Gaskell and Burne-Jones sitting together, a table laid with boiled eggs, a kettle and a loaf of bread between them pen and black ink on off-white paper WA2015.68.50 58. Illustrated letter with a chick graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.51 59. Illustrated letter with self-portrait lying in bed graphite on blue paper mounted on card WA2015.68.52 60. Illustrated letter with self-portrait sitting in an armchair graphite on blue paper mounted on card WA2015.68.53 61. Illustrated letter with a flu microbe pen and black ink on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.54 62. Illustrated letter with self-portrait lying on a sofa graphite on blue paper mounted on card WA2015.68.55 63. Illustrated letter with self-portrait falling backwards graphite on off-white paper mounted on card WA2015.68.56 64. Illustrated letter with self-portrait skipping (no image) pen and black ink over indications in graphite on blue paper WA2015.68.57 65. Illustrated letter with self-portrait in a night gown (no image) pen and black ink on cream paper WA2015.68.58 66. Illustrated letter with self-portrait in eighteenth-century costume with a sword graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.59 67. Illustrated letter with head of a woman in profile with an earring pen and ink on blue paper WA2015.68.60 68. Illustrated letter with Philip Burne-Jones slipping over the edge of a cliff black chalk on blue paper WA2015.68.62 69. Illustrated letter with two studies of a woman's foot resting on a cushion graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.63 70. Illustrated letter with sprite pen and ink off-white paper mounted on board WA2015.68.64 71. A malicious sprite pen and ink off-white paper WA2015.68.65 72. Illustrated letter with self-portrait sitting on the floor in front of an easel pen and ink off-white paper WA2015.68.66 73. Illustrated letter with four drawings of the story of a fat man swimming naked in the sea pen and ink over indications in graphite off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.67.1 74. Illustrated letter with a fat man walking on the beach pen and ink over indications in graphite off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.67.2 75. Illustrated letter with a fat man sitting in an armchair reading a newspaper pen and ink over indications in graphite off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.67.3 76. Illustrated letter with a fat man asleep in an armchair pen and ink over indications in graphite off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.67.4 77. Illustrated letter with a fat man asleep in bed pen and ink over indications in graphite off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.67.5 78. Illustrated letter with a fat man asleep in bed pen and ink over indications in graphite off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.67.6 79. Illustrated letter with a fat man admiring himself in a mirror pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.67.7 80. Illustrated letter with a fat man out shooting in the rain pen and ink and wash over indications in graphite off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.67.8 81. Man wearing oriental costume and a fez black chalk on off-white laid paper WA2015.68.68 82. Study for fancy dress costume for Amy Gaskell graphite on pale buff coloured headed writing paper WA2015.68.69 83. Caricature of a woman in the shape of an egg graphite on buff coloured headed writing paper WA2015.68.71 84. Illustrated letter with a hairy sprite graphite on off-white writing paper WA2015.68.73 85. Illustrated letter with head and shoulders of the same woman shown in youth and middle age pen and black ink on off-white writing paper WA2015.68.74 86. Dog (no image) pen and black ink on buff coloured paper WA2015.68.75 87. Illustrated letter with a happy sprite pen and black ink on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.78 88. Fragment of an illustrated letter with a fat man asleep in an armchair pen and black ink on blue paper WA2015.68.79 89. Fragment of an illustrated letter with briars and stones on a road graphite on blue paper WA2015.68.80 90. Helen Mary ('May') Gaskell in the bath pen and ink on off-white paper WA2015.68.82 91. A Snufflebuster graphite on buff coloured paper WA2015.68.83 92. A Wallypug graphite on buff coloured paper WA2015.68.84 93. Illustrated letter with a woman reclining on a sofa pen and black ink over indications in grahite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.85 94. Illustrated letter with hen black chalk on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.86 95. Fragment of an illustrated letter with two dogs pen and black ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.88 96. Fragment of an illustrated letter with a man in an armchair reading a newspaper pen and black ink on buff coloured headed writing paper WA2015.68.89 97. Illustrated letter with a bird flying up into the clouds and the rays of the sun emerging from behind a mountain ridge pen and black ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.90 98. Spider-like creature pen and black ink on buff coloured paper WA2015.68.91 99. Illustrated letter with a dog pouncing and lying on its back pen and black ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.92 100. Fragment of an illustrated letter with a Pierrot pen and black ink on blue paper WA2015.68.94 101. Illustrated letter with Aestas (the Personification of Summer) pen and black ink over indications in graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.68.96 102. Illustrated letter with an egg with a smiling face pen and black ink on blue headed writing paper WA2015.68.93 103. Fragment from an illustrated letter with a dancing sprite (no image) pen and black ink on off-white paper WA2015.68.76 Daphne's Album: album of letters and drawings for Daphne Gaskell WA2015.69 104. Finch and dragonfly graphite on headed writing paper WA2015.69.2 105. Cat and bird graphite on writing paper WA2015.69.3 106. Chick graphite on headed writing paper WA2015.69.1 107. Two birds (Nimps and Jimps) graphite on paper WA2015.69.4 108. Fairy and Witch with Crow graphite on paper WA2015.69.5 109. Dancing Child (Rosytoes) graphite on headed writing paper WA2015.69.6 110. Cat and Kitten graphite on headed writing paper WA2015.69.7 111. Cat (Tom) graphite on headed writing paper WA2015.69.8 112. Elephant graphite on paper WA2015.69.9 113. Pig pen and ink on paper WA2015.69.10 114. A Slapdoodle and a Grabblethwacker graphite on headed writing paper WA2015.69.11 115. Bird in flight and nest with three eggs graphite on headed writing paper WA2015.69.12 116. A Paddiflab and a Flapdabble graphite on headed writing paper WA2015.69.13 117. Illustrated letter with a house, stick man, trees, and fence pen and ink with lines ruled in graphite on headed writing paper WA2015.69.14 118. Illustrated letter with a self-portrait of Burne-Jones sitting in an armchair with a large cat on his lap pen and ink on blue paper WA2015.69.16 119. Illustrated letter with a fierce dog pen and ink on blue paper WA2015.69.17 120. Self-Portrait of Burne-Jones hunting dogs with a shotgun graphite on off-white paper WA2015.69.18 121. Illustrated letter with a steam ship in a storm pen and ink over graphite on off-white paper WA2015.69.19 122. Illustrated letter with a cat seen from behind pen and ink on blue writing paper WA2015.69.20 123. Illustrated letter with a cat seen from behind and a fierce dog straining on a chain pen and ink on blue writing paper WA2015.69.21 124. Illustrated letter with a caricature of a woman in profile pen and ink on blue paper WA2015.69.22 125. llustrated letter with self-portrait of Burne-Jones smoking a giant cigar pen and ink on blue writing paper WA2015.69.23 126. Illustrated letter with an erupting volcano pen and ink on blue writing paper WA2015.69.24 127. Illustrated letter with a rhinoceros, an elephant, and a hippopotamus pen and ink on off-white writing paper WA2015.69.25 128. Illustrated letter with a coastal scene of Genoa and a self-portrait pen and ink on blue headed writing paper WA2015.69.26 129. Illustrated letter with a coastal scene of Genoa and a self-portrait pen and ink on blue headed writing paper WA2015.69.26 130. Illustrated letter with three elderly men in tailcoats pen and ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.69.27 131. Illustrated letter with caricature of the artist's son, Philip Burne-Jones (Phil) pen and ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.69.28 132. Illustrated letter with ducks and a self-portrait with a bunch of flowers, birds and a sheep pen and ink on blue headed writing paper WA2015.69.29 133. Illustrated letter with self-portrait and a bed pen and ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.69.30 134. Illustrated letter with a duck and a cockerel pen and ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.69.31 135. Illustrated letter two self-portraits pen and ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.69.32 136. Illustrated letter with a flood at Eton in which masters are swimming and a master reprimanding a schoolboy pen and ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.69.33 137. Illustrated letter with a cat pen and ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.69.34 138. Illustrated envelope with a self-portrait of the artist at his easel pen and ink on off-white paper envelope with stamp affixed and postmark WA2015.69.35 139. Illustrated letter written in the guise of May Gaskell with drawings of a donkey and an old coat graphite on blue writing paper WA2015.69.37 140. Illustrated letter with portrait of Philip Burne-Jones pen and ink on off-white headed writing paper ruled in graphite WA2015.69.38 141. Imaginary female figure in three parts graphite on off-white paper WA2015.69.39 142. Head and shoulders of a man with a fanciful body and legs graphite on blue paper WA2015.69.40 143. Imaginary male figure in three parts graphite on blue paper WA2015.69.41 144. Imaginary walking male figure in three parts graphite on off-white paper WA2015.69.42 145. Illustrated letter with Daphne and a dog, and a pair of boots and coat and top hat pen and ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.69.43 146. Illustrated letter with village scene including a house, church, graveyard, flying birds, ducks on a pond, a pig, and flowers pen and ink on blue paper WA2015.69.44 147. Illustrated letter with a self-portrait of the artist with a cleaver and two dead dogs graphite on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.69.45 148. Letter consisting entirely of drawings of Beaumont Hall, Lancaster, a woman walking in a garden and a man carrying a tray: verso, figures travelling in a carriage pen and ink on off-white headed writing paper WA2015.69.36
Beaumont Hall was the country residence of Captain and Mrs Gaskell
Phlumbudge’ and ‘Flapdabble’. The archive also includes some letters to May’s elder daughter, Amy (1874–1910), whom Burne-Jones painted in 1893 in one of the greatest Pre-Raphaelite portraits (collection of Lord Lloyd-Webber). Colin Harrison, Senior Curator of European Art, Ashmolean Museum, says: "May Gaskell was Burne- Jones’s closest friend in his last years. He gave her a selection of his finest drawings, which she in turn gave to the Ashmolean in 1939. The opportunity to acquire the albums of intimate and humorous letters that he sent to May and to her daughter, Daphne, was unmissable; and we are most grateful for the support from the NHMF, the Art Fund, and other bodies, as well as numerous private donors. Their generosity has ensured that the letters have ended up in their rightful home, and that the Ashmolean now has one of the most representative, as well as distinguished, collections of Burne-Jones’s work in the world." Sir Peter Luff, Chair of NHMF, says: “Sir Edward Burne-Jones was the most prominent of the second generation Pre-Raphaelites and his work had an enormous influence. This exceptional collection of letters, which throws light on the last years of his life, was the most important part of his collection in private hands. I'm delighted that National Heritage Memorial Fund investment will mean they can be available for everyone to explore and enjoy.” Stephen Deuchar, Director of the Art Fund, says: "The Ashmolean owns one of the finest collections of works by Burne-Jones in the world, which will be greatly enriched by this important and delightful collection of letters."
The archive, which has remained with May Gaskell’s descendants, consists of more than 200 letters dating from 1892 up to the year of Burne-Jones’s death: three albums of intimate letters from the artist to Mrs Gaskell; two albums of illustrated letters to Mrs Gaskell and her daughter, Daphne; and other ephemera such as the artist’s brushes which he used when painting his famous portrait of Amy Gaskell. The letters are one of the most endearing records of all Burne-Jones’s friendships. They recount both his innermost thoughts and feelings and feature a cast of humorous characters, fictitious and real. They have been acquired for £200,000 with major support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF); the Art Fund; the Arts Council England/Victoria and Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund; the Friends of the National Libraries; and numerous private donations. Two of the albums are on display in the Museum for its Great British Drawings exhibition where they can be seen until 31 August. They will now enter the Ashmolean’s permanent collection. Following conservation, they will be made available as an invaluable resource to students and scholars of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, and they will be published online. The letters will add to the collection of drawings by Burne-Jones bequeathed to the Ashmolean in 1939 by Mrs Gaskell, forming one of the richest Pre-Raphaelite archives in the country. Many of the letters were published by Josceline Dimbleby, May Gaskell’s great-granddaughter, in her acclaimed book, A Profound Secret (2004), which recounts the author’s research into her family’s history. On the occasion of this major acquisition, Josceline Dimbleby will give a Saturday Talk on 8 August at the Ashmolean, in conversation with the curator of Great British Drawings, Colin Harrison. Josceline Dimbleby says: "My discovery of so many intimate and often witty letters from Burne-Jones to my great grandmother May Gaskell, forgotten for decades in an old chest of drawers, was one of the most exciting moments in my life, together with finding, wrapped in old paper and string at the back of one drawer, the paintbrushes he used for his famous portrait of my doomed great aunt Amy Gaskell, still with paint sticking to them. The letters revealed a passion that made it hard to think of this friendship as platonic and I spent a fascinating and happy three years piecing together and writing the story of what was A Profound Secret, feeling that I was getting to know my ancestors, and a very private side of Burne- Jones." Burne- Jones met May Gaskell in 1892, and she became the last in the succession of women with whom he enjoyed especially close, but platonic, friendships. She was the wife of a dull cavalry officer, and, in an unfulfilling marriage, she corresponded with Burne- Jones up to five times a day. The letters include a series of cartoon-like tales featuring characters such as the ‘fat lady’ and the artist himself, caught in mishap and misadventure. Beneath the surface lies the black humour endemic to Burne-Jones’s frequent moods of depression and insecurity. There is, for example, a superb sequence of caricatures of the artist suffering from flu. In the course of their friendship, Burne-Jones became dependent on May, confessing to her that she ‘reached the well of loneliness that is in me’. He also sent whimsical letters to the infant Daphne Gaskell (1887–1966). She was only six when she met Burne-Jones and he took an affectionate and fatherly interest in her, his own children having grown up. His letters to Daphne, written in phonetic spelling, include birds and animals familiar from his other letters to children, and several fantastic inventions such as the ‘Phlumbudge’ and ‘Flapdabble’. The archive also includes some letters to May’s elder daughter, Amy (1874–1910), whom Burne-Jones painted in 1893 in one of the greatest Pre-Raphaelite portraits (collection of Lord Lloyd-Webber). Colin Harrison, Senior Curator of European Art, Ashmolean Museum, says: "May Gaskell was Burne- Jones’s closest friend in his last years. He gave her a selection of his finest drawings, which she in turn gave to the Ashmolean in 1939. The opportunity to acquire the albums of intimate and humorous letters that he sent to May and to her daughter, Daphne, was unmissable; and we are most grateful for the support from the NHMF, the Art Fund, and other bodies, as well as numerous private donors. Their generosity has ensured that the letters have ended up in their rightful home, and that the Ashmolean now has one of the most representative, as well as distinguished, collections of Burne-Jones’s work in the world." Sir Peter Luff, Chair of NHMF, says: “Sir Edward Burne-Jones was the most prominent of the second generation Pre-Raphaelites and his work had an enormous influence. This exceptional collection of letters, which throws light on the last years of his life, was the most important part of his collection in private hands. I'm delighted that National Heritage Memorial Fund investment will mean they can be available for everyone to explore and enjoy.” Stephen Deuchar, Director of the Art Fund, says: "The Ashmolean owns one of the finest collections of works by Burne-Jones in the world, which will be greatly enriched by this important and delightful collection of letters."