The Fates – Composition Study 

Edward Burne-Jones made this study for "The Fates" using chalk on brown paper. Immediately, the composition strikes you with its tiered arrangement of figures, a somewhat compressed space that directs your eye upwards. The limited palette focuses our attention on the structure of the piece, the lines and forms standing out against the warm ground. This approach to composition relates to Burne-Jones’s broader artistic interest in classical themes and his engagement with the Pre-Raphaelite movement. The Fates, mythological figures controlling destiny, are rendered with a deliberate emphasis on line and form, typical of Burne-Jones' aesthetic. We can see here the artist’s interest in not just representing a scene, but in structuring it to convey a deeper meaning about human existence. Notice, in closing, how the composition uses the interplay of vertical and horizontal lines to create a sense of balance. This is a deliberate choice, reflecting the artist's interest in the formal qualities of the work and highlighting the underlying structure of the narrative.