The Parable of the Burning Pot, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery" 1865 - 1881

Edward Burne-Jones created this wood engraving, “The Parable of the Burning Pot,” sometime in the mid-19th century. The piece visualizes a story from the Old Testament in which the prophet Ezekiel warns of coming destruction. Burne-Jones belonged to the Pre-Raphaelite circle, a group of artists who often drew on historical and mythological subjects, but he was also invested in the social reform movements of his day. Here, Ezekiel stands apart, his muscular form and dark beard setting him in stark contrast to the delicate, indolent figures in the background. The artist uses the narrative to critique societal complacency. The self-absorbed elites are indifferent to the destruction to come. The burning pot, a symbol of divine wrath, also evokes the industrial fires of 19th-century England. The image underscores the artist’s anxiety about the spiritual and moral health of a society consumed by materialism. “The Parable of the Burning Pot” is not just a biblical illustration; it is a reflection on the artist's contemporary world, a warning etched in fire and shadow.