Gudrun Setting Fire to Atli's Palace by Edward Burne-Jones

Gudrun Setting Fire to Atli's Palace 1897

siredwardcoleyburnejones

Private Collection

carving, sculpture

portrait

abstract expressionism

abstract painting

carving

prophet

sculpture

possibly oil pastel

oil painting

fluid art

neo expressionist

acrylic on canvas

sculpture

paint stroke

mythology

female-portraits

expressionist

Edward Burne-Jones's "Gudrun Setting Fire to Atli's Palace" (1897) depicts a powerful scene from Norse mythology. Gudrun, a queen seeking revenge for the murder of her family, sets fire to the palace of Atli, the king who betrayed her. The Pre-Raphaelite artist uses a muted palette of browns and grays to highlight Gudrun’s tragic determination, and a swirling, almost abstract, style to emphasize the flames consuming the palace. This powerful artwork speaks to the themes of betrayal, vengeance, and the enduring power of love and loss.