Study for the Figure of Phyllis, for the painting "The Tree of Forgiveness" by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt ARA (1833-1898). Pencil on two sheets of paper: 8 1/2 x 13 inches, 21.5 x 33 centimetres. Provenance: Sir John and Lady Witt.
"This drawing is a study for the The Tree of Forgiveness" (1882, Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight), Burne-Jones's second treatment of the story of Phyllis and Demophoon. Phyllis, Queen of Thrace, turned into an almond tree when deserted by Demophoon. Burne-Jones represents the moment when Phyllis springs out of the tree to embrace her faithless lover" (Waters, p. 59).
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References
Waters, Bill. Burne-Jones — A Quest for Love: Works by Sir Edward Burne-Jones Bt and Related Works by Contemporary Artists. London: Peter Nahum, 1993. Catalogue number 30.
Last modified 5 June 2020