Psyche at the Shrines of Juno and Ceres 1881

Edward Burne-Jones painted "Psyche at the Shrines of Juno and Ceres" with oil on canvas, using the traditional techniques of the late 19th century. The smoothness of the paint surface belies the labor involved in its creation. Burne-Jones would have carefully layered the paint, building up depth and luminosity. The choice of oil paint itself is significant; it allowed for a level of detail and realism that aligned with the aesthetic preferences of the Victorian era. The painting's allegorical subject matter is further brought out through the artist's mastery of the oil medium. The scale of such a painting suggests a patron with means, and the classical subject matter reflects the cultural preoccupations of the upper classes at the time. Ultimately, the painting reflects a society that valued both skilled craftsmanship and intellectual engagement with the past. We can see it as a product of its time, shaped by both artistic traditions and social context.