Artwork
The Garden of the Hesperides
The Garden of the Hesperides is a tempera painting by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Garden of the Hesperides is a tempera painting created by Edward Burne-Jones in 1891. It is a representation of a scene from Greek mythology and is now part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts two women, the Hesperides, tending a tree with golden apples, accompanied by a serpent. The women's attire and the setting evoke a sense of serenity and elegance, drawing on mythological themes.
Technique & Style
The work showcases Burne-Jones's skill in tempera, a medium he used to achieve a distinctive, detailed style. The painting's decorative elements, such as the yellow wall with gold accents, reflect his collaboration with William Morris in the decorative arts.
History & Provenance
Burne-Jones's reputation was established through exhibitions, including those at the Grosvenor Gallery in 1877. The Garden of the Hesperides, created in 1891, is a later work that demonstrates his continued exploration of mythological themes and his mastery of tempera.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet (; 28 August 1833 – 17 June 1898) was an English painter and designer associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's style and subject matter.
Compared in the Pre-Raphaelites course