Edward Burne-Jones Papers

Typed extracts from writings by Edward Burne-Jones to Frances Horner. Mostly meditations on life, religion, women, arts, literature (Scott especially); thoughts on contemporary art: "I do from my soul hate all the conditions of modern art exhibitions", and the money dealings, "O heaven, they are vile to contamination and disgrace, they are" (XXVII.5), ignorance of French art, Lady Swynnerton: "I think her far and away the ablest woman who paints"; refers to current events: Parnell, retirement of Gladstone, Archbishop of Westminster; mentions meeting with Tennyson and dinner with Henry James, illness of Mrs Gaskell, death of Madox Brown, Damien, and describes attendance at the funerals of Tennyson (XXVIII.23) and Browning (XXVIII.12); discusses development of "Magi Picture", "Blessed Damozel" ("In Memoriam D.G.R."), paint techniques for "Aurora", "Lucifer", "Cicely", "Peseus" for Arthur Balfour, the Chaucer produced with William Morris, "Love in the Ruins"; expresses feelings about display of his own works at New Gallery: "I do hate the coming Exhibition so much and wish they could have waited I don't want to look at me at 25 nor at 30 nor at 40 and the rest ah! the rest" (XXVIII.22); talks about condition of life in London, thoughts on St. Paul's as well as churches in Salisbury and thoughts on Glastonbury, Dunster, Lynmouth, and Parloc; expresses wish to "end in that faith", i.e. Roman Catholicism (XXVII.5). Item XXVII.66 includes a hand drawn playbill for a Shakespeare performance at the Theatre Royal, January 20, 1896.