Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt., A.R.A., R.W.S.

The artist's studio; thence to his daughter Margaret Mackail (her sale: Christie's, London, 3 December 1954)
Purchased at the above sale by a private collector; thence by descent

This chalk drawing was made in preparation for one of Burne-Jones’ most celebrated series of pictures – known as Pygmalion and the Image and depicting the creation of a perfect woman by a Greek sculptor who falls in love with the image he creates which is brought to life by Venus. The set of four paintings in Birmingham City Art Gallery were completed in 1878 and exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery the following year. The style of this drawing suggests that it was probably made in the mid-1860s and therefore relates to the earlier series (Collection of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber). It is a study for the third painting the The Godhead Fires and depicts the figure of Galatea recently brought to life reaching out to Venus who in turn reaches forwards to support Galatea as she takes her first step.