Fitzwilliam work list 1870- ... began Love in the ruins and the Hesperides 1873 Finished Love among the ruins. Finished the Hesperides. both for Craven The earth is scattered with Botticellian flowers, but specifically carnations appear through the folds of the drapery at the feet of the two figures of Maria. Phillips' Floral Emblems ( 1825) represent refusal. NB: The latter two paintings would appear to be allied and were exhibited frequently together 1869 saw the tragic incident of Maria attempting suicide on Burne-Jones' refusal to commit himself and travel with her to Greece. It gives a clue to the hidden meanings of the two paintings. This first version with the portraits of Maria, the enigmatic inclusion of carnations and its linking with the painting first referred to as "Love in the Ruins", implying a documentation of the crisis in their relationship and the survival of their affection through it. Significantly another model was used for the second version. Engraved by Jules Simon Payrau Note: The painting was on loan to the City museum and Art Gallery , Birmingham from Middlemore, until c1970. when it was sold. The Garden of the Hesperides is described in the section of William Morris's Earthly Paradise "The Golden Apples" About the tree, new risen e'en now to meet The shining presence of that mighty one Three damsels stood, naked from head to feet Save for the glory of their hair, where sun And shadow flickered, while the wind did run Through the grey leaves o'erhead, and shook the grass Where nigh their feet the wandering bee did pass But 'midst their delicate limbs and all around The tree roots, gleaming blue black could they see The spires of a great serpent, that, enwound About the smooth bole, looked forth threateningly, With glittering eyes and raised crest o'er the three Fair heads fresh crowned, and hissed above the speech Where with they murmured softly each to each.
16 June 1895 The by no means highly finished watercolour "Hesperides" (194) fetched 2300 or 2500 guineas, a few days back4. (I haven't a catalogue at hand) and was bought for stock by A.5 as I saw it there a week later. 4. Frederick Craven sale, May 18, 1895. 5. Agnew.