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. Jacob's ladder is a common name for Greek Valerian (Polemonium caeruleum) a common cottage garden plant . Burne-Jones' contemporary sources cite another flower, native to Northern England, that was also referred to as 'Jacob's ladder', the lily of the alley (Canvallaria majolis). Burne-Jones's uses the motif of angel like figures upon a golden ladder in his later masterpiece, 'Golden Stairs' (Tate; 1872-80).

  • Purchased, 1953
  • © Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

Makers

Association Artist Organisation
Artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones -

Inscriptions

Type Position(s) Method Date(s) Notes
These are Angels returning to heaven.
Label - - - description of the scene, written by the artist. printed by the artist, herein a facsimile
 

Literature

Author(s) Date(s) Publisher Pages
The Flower Book.
Edward Burne-Jones 1994 Taschen Pl. III
 
Hidden Burne-Jones, Works on paper by Edward Burne-Jones from Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery
2007 Dan Giles, Ltd., London p. 72

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