Studio of Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt. (British 1833-18...

Hammer

£450

Studio of Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt. (British 1833-1898) Studies for the Apple Orchard in 'The Sleeping of King Arthur in Avalon' a set of five, one inscribed 'TOP' (upper left and upper right) all pencil largest 16.5 x 25 cm, framed and glazed 29 x 39 cm Qty: (5) Provenance: Anon.sale: Bonhams, British and European Art, 22 March 2016, lot 81 (as a set of seven drawings). Private collection, UK. Footnote: The Sleep of King Arthur in Avalon (Museo de Arte, Ponce, Puerto Rico) is widely considered to be Burne-Jones' magnum opus as well as his largest and final work. The work was commissioned as a mural for the library at Naworth Castle by the artist's friend and patron George Howard, 9th Earl of Carlisle (1843-1911). It is possible that the present studies were executed by Thomas Matthew Rooke (1842-1942) Burne-Jones' trusted studio assistant. Rooke was an extremely skilled draughtsman and artist in his own right and the detail and softness of handling apparent in these studies are typical of his hand.