183 - Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt ARA RWS,

Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt ARA RWS, British 1833-1898- Study of two girls, head and shoulders; pencil on paper, 24.2 x 16.6 cm. Provenance: Property of a Charitable Trust. Anon. sale, Bonhams, London, 20 February 2019, lot 67. Private Collection, UK. Note: Drawing inspiration from the Italian Renaissance masters and celebrated for the emotional depth and expressive quality of his figures, Burne-Jones was one of the leading artists of his generation. From the 1870s onwards, he developed a highly methodical approach to his compositions, beginning with rough exploratory sketches before refining his ideas through a series of increasingly detailed studies. By isolating individual figures, poses and details, he experimented with alternative designs until arriving at a fully resolved composition. The present work demonstrates this process, comprising two studies of girls resting their heads on their hands, explored from two different angles. Intended as practical working drawings, such studies provide valuable insight into Burne-Jones's creative process and the gradual evolution of his compositions. A comparable study of a female nude by Burne-Jones, produced in preparation for 'Arthur in Avalon', sold at Roseberys on 8 July 2026, lot 201 (£4,461).