Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt

Study of the Virgin and Child for ‘The Star of Bethlehem’

c.1887

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

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Artist
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt 1833–1898
Medium
Graphite on paper
Dimensions
Support: 268 x 153 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Presented by Lord Duveen 1925
Reference
N04110

Display caption

In 1887 Burne-Jones produced a design depicting the Adoration of the Kings at Christ's Nativity, entitled 'The Star of Bethlehem' The subject was first realised as a large tapestry for Exeter College, Oxford (1890). But while work on the tapestry was still in hand at Merton Abbey, Burne-Jones was commissioned to make a replica in watercolours by the Corporation of Birmingham. Although Burne-Jones's christian faith was shaken (if not altogether lost) while he was a student at Oxford, he retained a profound sense of spirituality. When asked if he believed in the story of the Nativity, as he worked on the watercolour for Birmingham, he professed the view that it was 'too beautiful not to be true'.

Gallery label, August 2004

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Pre-Raphaelite

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