Information

'The Hill of Venus' tells the story of man named Walter, "who by strange adventure fell into the power of Venus, and who, repenting of his life with her, was fain to return to the world and amend all, but might not; for his repentance was rejected of men, by whomsoever it was accepted". This study is one of thirteen preliminary tracing states for woodblocked engravings (now in the Ashmolean). Walter stands in the left foreground upon the Hill of Venus, looking down towards a medieval town, which is approached by a bridge over a wide river. This design probably illustrates the lines:'Though from a green hill on further side,Above the green meads set with poplars slim,A white wall, buttressed well, made girdle wideTo towers and roofs where yet his kin did bide!'

  • Bequeathed by James Richardson Holliday, 1927.
  • © Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

Makers

Association Artist Organisation
Artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones -

Literature

Author(s) Date(s) Publisher Pages
City of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery: Catalogue of the Permanent Collection of Drawings
A E Whitley 1939 Bemrose & Sons Ltd, Derby p. 88
 
Hidden Burne-Jones, Works on paper by Edward Burne-Jones from Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery
2007 Dan Giles, Ltd., London p. 73

Associated people

Name Type
William Morris Author

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