Study for The Wedding Feast of Sir Degrevaunt 

Editor: Here we have a drawing, likely a preliminary study, by Edward Burne-Jones, entitled "Study for The Wedding Feast of Sir Degrevaunt." The media appear to be pencil and ink on paper. What strikes me is the dreamlike quality, how some figures are fully realized while others fade into ethereal sketches. What do you make of this work? Curator: Ah, yes! It's like stumbling upon a half-remembered fairytale, isn't it? Burne-Jones, ever the romantic, evokes the Pre-Raphaelite obsession with Arthurian legends and medieval romance, but filtered through his very own, almost wistful sensibility. Notice how the solid, grounded figures seem to exist alongside barely-there, spectral presences. It's like peering into the artist's mind, catching glimpses of the idea taking form. Tell me, what kind of story do you imagine when you look at their faces? Editor: There’s a quiet solemnity, especially in the faces of the darker figures, and a certain detachment. As if they are witnessing something rather than participating. Do you think this reflects Burne-Jones's own views on love or marriage? Curator: A very interesting observation. He certainly wasn't a stranger to complicated emotional landscapes! He lived at a time when traditional notions of courtship were being challenged and the boundaries between art and life were blurring. And while it's tempting to psychoanalyze the poor fellow – goodness knows art history is full of amateur shrinks – perhaps it is the universal awkwardness of weddings he is portraying. The guests can often be observers trapped somewhere between social expectations and sincere personal connection. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way, it is more nuanced. Thank you, this made me see more than just a beautiful drawing, and gave me an insightful look at Burne-Jones's mind. Curator: My pleasure. It is easy to be charmed by his delicate touch and courtly aesthetics; but the real delight resides in the chance that, with just a bit of prompting, those figures seem on the verge of stepping off the page to reveal their secret longings and suppressed desires.