Studies of Hands Holding a Dish and Cymbal, for "The Hours"; verso: Drapery Study c. 1882

Curator: This is a fascinating study by Edward Burne-Jones, titled "Studies of Hands Holding a Dish and Cymbal, for 'The Hours'." Editor: There's such a quiet grace to these hands, even in a preliminary sketch. They feel like they're caught in a moment of sacred stillness. Curator: Indeed. Burne-Jones was a key figure in the Aesthetic movement, and this drawing exemplifies his interest in classical themes. The hands relate to figures in his larger work, 'The Hours.' Consider how the hands holding the cymbal suggest rhythm and time itself. Editor: The cymbal resonates so strongly, doesn't it? It speaks of ritual, marking time, almost a mystical announcement. The way the hands are rendered, particularly with the dish, evokes a sense of offering. What do you make of that? Curator: The dish, the cymbal...they both become symbolic vessels. Burne-Jones elevates the everyday gesture to something imbued with meaning. He captures more than anatomy; he gets at the very essence of gesture and purpose. Editor: It really makes you appreciate how Burne-Jones extracted potent symbolism from such simple objects. I will carry that feeling with me.