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Design for a piano: Orpheus "Across the Flames": 717

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An image of Drawing
An image of Drawing
Current Location: In storage

Titles

Design for a piano: Orpheus "Across the Flames"

Maker(s)

Draughtsman: Burne-Jones, Edward

Entities

Categories

Notes

History note: The artist - his sale, Christie's, 18th July 1898, lot. 186

Measurements and weight

Height: 236 mm
Width: 225 mm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1911-07) by Murray, Charles Fairfax

Dating

1870s
1879 - 1880

Note

Made as a decoration of a grand piano, undertaken by E.B.J. for William Graham, M.P. in 1879 and finished in 1880. The two sides of the lid "were treated as separate complete panels, the inside being covered in the former year, with the nude figure of earth, surrounded by a swarm of babies... among the arabesques of the vine; and in the latter, the Poet and half length figure of Music, were painted on the outside, while the decoration was completed by ELEVEN LITTLE CIRCULAR PANELS AROUND THE SIDES REPRESENTING THE STORY OF ORPHEUS..." (M. Bell p. 80. Edward Burne Jones, A Record and Review, George Bell and Sons, 1892).

School or Style

British

Materials used in production

Bodycolour
Gold

Components of the work

Support composed of prepared paper

Techniques used in production

Watercolour : Brown and white bodycolour and gold, on a brown prepared surface (circular design within a square)

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: 717
Primary reference Number: 25983

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 15 October 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

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The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Design for a piano: Orpheus "Across the Flames"" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/25983 Accessed: 2025-12-05 11:46:19

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/25983 |title=Design for a piano: Orpheus "Across the Flames" |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 11:46:19|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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