Burne-Jones first attempted the story in an oil painting of 1861–62 (now in the Tate Gallery, London).[1] He was working out a new composition around 1874[2] or 1875,[1] and began the painting in earnest in 1881.[2] He worked on it through the winter of 1883–84, declaring it finished in April 1884.
The composition is influenced by Andrea Mantegna's Madonna della Vittoria (1496–96).[1][2] Several studies for the final work survive. A small gouache (bodycolour) of c. 1883 (now in the collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber) shows the king and the beggar maid much closer together, and a full-scale cartoon in bodycolour and coloured chalks of the same year (now in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery) features an entirely different approach to lighting the figures.[1]
External videos
Smarthistory – King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid[3]
King Cophetua was exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery in 1884 and became Burne-Jones's greatest success of the 1880s for its technical execution and its themes of power and wealth overborne by beauty and simplicity. It was heralded as the "picture of the year" by The Art Journal and "not only the finest work Mr. Burne-Jones has ever painted, but one of the finest pictures ever painted by an Englishman" by The Times.[2] The painting was exhibited in France in 1889, where its popularity earned Burne-Jones the Legion of Honour and began a vogue for his work.[1] The artist's wife Georgiana Burne-Jones felt "this picture contained more of Edward's own qualities than any other he did."[4]
The painting was purchased by the Earl of Wharncliffe (d. 1899) and acquired by public subscription through the Burne-Jones Memorial Fund from his executors in 1900. It is now in Tate Britain.[1][2] The full-scale cartoon was acquired for Birmingham in 1947.
The painting is referenced in Chapter 4 of Anthony Powell's "Books do Furnish a Room", the tenth installment of "A Dance to the Music of Time", as a visual set-up for the confrontation between X Trapnel and Kenneth Widmerpool in the former's digs in bombed out Little Venice circa 1947. Pamela Widmerpool is envisioned as the Beggar Maid. The painting is also mentioned in the story "The Beggar Maid" by Alice Munro, where Patrick compares Rose to Beggar Maid, and Rose then looks at the picture only to find out how un-like King Cophetua Patrick would ever be, and how impossible their marriage would be (which turns to be the case). It also merits a mention in A.N. Wilson's novel "Kindly Light."
Wood, Christopher (1997). Burne-Jones. Phoenix Illustrated. ISBN9780753807279.
Wildman, Stephen (1998). Edward Burne-Jones: Victorian Artist-Dreamer. Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN0870998595. full text online from The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Munro, A. "The Beggar Maid" in The Beggar Maid. Stories of Flo & Rose Vintage Books, London 2004
April 16, 2024
king, cophetua, beggar, maid, painting, king, cophetua, beggar, maid, 1884, painting, raphaelite, artist, edward, burne, jones, painting, illustrates, story, king, beggar, maid, which, tells, legend, prince, cophetua, fell, love, first, sight, with, beggar, pe. King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid is an 1884 painting by the Pre Raphaelite artist Edward Burne Jones The painting illustrates the story of The King and the Beggar maid which tells the legend of the prince Cophetua who fell in love at first sight with the beggar Penelophon The tale was familiar to Burne Jones through an Elizabethan ballad published in Bishop Thomas Percy s 1765 Reliques of Ancient English Poetry and the sixteen line poem The Beggar Maid by Alfred Lord Tennyson 1 2 King Cophetua and the Beggar MaidArtistEdward Burne JonesYear1884MediumOil on panelDimensions293 4 cm 135 9 cm 115 5 in 53 5 in LocationTate Britain LondonBurne Jones first attempted the story in an oil painting of 1861 62 now in the Tate Gallery London 1 He was working out a new composition around 1874 2 or 1875 1 and began the painting in earnest in 1881 2 He worked on it through the winter of 1883 84 declaring it finished in April 1884 The composition is influenced by Andrea Mantegna s Madonna della Vittoria 1496 96 1 2 Several studies for the final work survive A small gouache bodycolour of c 1883 now in the collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows the king and the beggar maid much closer together and a full scale cartoon in bodycolour and coloured chalks of the same year now in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery features an entirely different approach to lighting the figures 1 External videosSmarthistory King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid 3 King Cophetua was exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery in 1884 and became Burne Jones s greatest success of the 1880s for its technical execution and its themes of power and wealth overborne by beauty and simplicity It was heralded as the picture of the year by The Art Journal and not only the finest work Mr Burne Jones has ever painted but one of the finest pictures ever painted by an Englishman by The Times 2 The painting was exhibited in France in 1889 where its popularity earned Burne Jones the Legion of Honour and began a vogue for his work 1 The artist s wife Georgiana Burne Jones felt this picture contained more of Edward s own qualities than any other he did 4 The painting was purchased by the Earl of Wharncliffe d 1899 and acquired by public subscription through the Burne Jones Memorial Fund from his executors in 1900 It is now in Tate Britain 1 2 The full scale cartoon was acquired for Birmingham in 1947 The painting is referenced in Chapter 4 of Anthony Powell s Books do Furnish a Room the tenth installment of A Dance to the Music of Time as a visual set up for the confrontation between X Trapnel and Kenneth Widmerpool in the former s digs in bombed out Little Venice circa 1947 Pamela Widmerpool is envisioned as the Beggar Maid The painting is also mentioned in the story The Beggar Maid by Alice Munro where Patrick compares Rose to Beggar Maid and Rose then looks at the picture only to find out how un like King Cophetua Patrick would ever be and how impossible their marriage would be which turns to be the case It also merits a mention in A N Wilson s novel Kindly Light Contents 1 Studies 2 See also 3 Notes 4 ReferencesStudies edit nbsp Sketch in gouache 1883 owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber nbsp Full size cartoon 1883 Birmingham See also editList of paintings by Edward Burne JonesNotes edit a b c d e f g Wildman 1998 pp 252 254 a b c d e f Wood 1997 pp 100 102 King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid Smarthistory at Khan Academy Retrieved 29 December 2012 Quoted in Wildman 1998 p 255References editWood Christopher 1997 Burne Jones Phoenix Illustrated ISBN 9780753807279 Wildman Stephen 1998 Edward Burne Jones Victorian Artist Dreamer Metropolitan Museum of Art ISBN 0870998595 full text online from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Munro A The Beggar Maid in The Beggar Maid Stories of Flo amp Rose Vintage Books London 2004 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid painting amp oldid 1187968687, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
