This picture depicts Orpheus with his lute on his way to Hades to bring back his deceased wife, encountering the soul of the damned Ixion tied to a wheel and spinning through eternity beside the river Styx. It was one of a series of seven designs made by Burne-Jones to narrate the story of Orpheus in Morris’ The Earthly Paradise and made into small paintings in 1872, according to the artist’s account books. Two of the designs are in the collection of Tate and four were offered at Sotheby's London (14 December 2017, lot 6). ‘Proud Ixion (doomed to feel The tortures of the eternal wheel Bound by the hand of angry Jove) Received the due rewards of impious love.’ Sophocles
Burne-Jones's friendship with William De Morgan is well known and one copper lustre dish with Orpheus playing his harp at its centre is acknowledged to having been designed by Burne-Jones. This is dated c.1880, but we consider it to be c.1875. Many of De Morgan's early figurative designs were inspired by Burne-Jones and it is here suggested that this early series roundels of Orpheus made 1872 were to be used as designs for ceramic plaques by De Morgan. AS yet no plaques have appeared and the project may have proved too difficult and the abandoned designs were later adapted for the Graham piano.