Artwork
The Mirror of Venus.
The Mirror of Venus. is an oil painting by the Aestheticist artist Edward Burne-Jones. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1889, The Mirror of Venus is an oil painting by Edward Burne‑Jones, a figure associated with the Pre‑Raphaelites and the later Aesthetic movement. The work is part of the collection of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and presents a mythological tableau centered on the goddess Venus.
Subject & Meaning
The composition gathers a group of women dressed in classical‑style robes around a shallow pool, each gazing at their reflections or reaching toward the water’s surface. The setting suggests a contemplative moment of self‑examination, echoing the ancient motif of Venus as a mirror of beauty and desire.
Technique & Style
Burne‑Jones employs soft, flowing lines and a muted palette of reds, purples, and blues to render the figures, creating an ethereal atmosphere. The landscape behind them is rendered with minimal detail, rocky terrain and distant mountains, allowing the focus to remain on the delicate interaction between the women and the water.
History & Provenance
By the late 1870s Burne‑Jones had established a reputation through exhibitions at the Grosvenor Gallery and collaborations with William Morris. The Mirror of Venus entered the Gulbenkian Museum’s holdings in the 20th century, where it remains on view as an example of his mature decorative approach.
Context
The painting reflects the Aesthetic movement’s emphasis on beauty for its own sake, moving away from narrative drama toward visual harmony. Its mythological subject aligns with the Pre‑Raphaelite interest in medieval and classical themes, while the decorative quality anticipates later Art Nouveau sensibilities.
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.
