Information

A page from the facsimile edition of Burne-Jones' Flower Book, one of 38 watercolour designs reproduced by Henri Piazza et Cie, for the Fine Art Society, London in 1905.The 'Star of Bethlehem' is actually the flowering part of the Prussian asparagus (Ornithogalum umbellatum). While it bears the same title as Burne-Jones's 1880-81 painting for Birmingham's collection, compositionally it is completely different. The angel itself is based on a contemporary image Burne-Jones had worked on for mosaics to appear at St. Paul's-Within-the-Walls, Rome, of the Angel Uriel (Private Collection, 1882-84).

  • Purchased, 1953
  • © Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

Makers

Association Artist Organisation
Artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones -

Inscriptions

Type Position(s) Method Date(s) Notes
The Angel leads the Wise Men by its light.
Label - Printed - description of the scene, written by the artist. printed by the artist, herein a facsimile
 

Exhibitions

Catalogue No. Venue Date(s)
Hidden Burne Jones
- BMAG G16 2007-04-04 - 2007-07-01
- Leighton House, London 2007-10 - 2008-01
 

Literature

Author(s) Date(s) Publisher Pages
The Flower Book.
Edward Burne-Jones 1994 Taschen Pl. XX
 
Edward Burne-Jones: Victorian Artist-Dreamer
John Christian, Stephen Wildman 1998 Metropolitan Museum of Art p. 286; pl. 135a
 
Hidden Burne-Jones, Works on paper by Edward Burne-Jones from Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery
2007 Dan Giles, Ltd., London p. 73

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