Study of "Dawn," after Michelangelo; verso: blank c. 19th century

Curator: This delicate drawing is Edward Burne-Jones's "Study of 'Dawn,' after Michelangelo." It’s a red chalk sketch, about the size of a large paperback. Editor: It feels unfinished, doesn’t it? Like a whispered secret still forming on the page. The red chalk gives it such a soft, intimate quality, almost like a blush. Curator: Absolutely. Burne-Jones was fascinated by the Renaissance masters, particularly Michelangelo, and this drawing reveals his deep engagement with classical forms. Editor: I’m struck by the pose; it’s vulnerable, almost fetal. But also powerful, as if on the verge of awakening, breaking free from the confines of sleep, of the page. Curator: It's intriguing to consider what Burne-Jones was hoping to capture. Was it simply the mastery of Michelangelo or something more? Editor: Perhaps Burne-Jones wanted to capture a moment of liminality – the dawn of something new. It’s a powerful image of potential. Curator: Indeed, this small drawing offers a surprising amount to contemplate. Editor: It certainly does, like a fleeting dream that lingers long after waking.