Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones
1833 – 1898
English
“Excellence in painting demands refinement, richness of invention (invenzione), expressed through virtuoso technique (maniera), and wit and study that appeared in the finished work, all criteria that emphasized the artist’s intellect and the patron’s sensibility. The artist was now no longer just a craftsman member of a local Guild of St Luke. Now he took his place at court with scholars, poets, and humanists, in a climate that fostered an appreciation for elegance and complexity.”
-Wiki-quote [viz. Giorgio Vasari]
Edward burne Jones was a member of the group of artists known as Pre-Raphaelites. The Pre-Raphaelites were called thus because of their adherence to the artistic virtues of the painters who were active before Raphael. Essentially, they were distinguished for using a style known as “Mannerism”. They are also referred to as the “Aesthetic Movement” because of the decorative motifs and stylized designs.
“Mannerism” is about “ideals”. In other words, they sought to present a world not in terms of what it “IS” but in terms of what it could be. Their canvases were ordered, colorful, and decorative. The Pre-Raphaelites also were outspoken in their belief that they ought to present a worldview of sound morals, ethics, and values.
Mannerism, in contrast to some styles, advocates the use of prescribed methods. They felt, and stressed, that it was the decorative qualities that were important in fine art, rather than an adherence to natural law and visual effect. In Burne-Jones day (as well as ours) Mannerism was controversial. The Pre-Raphaelites embraced it nonetheless, unlike the majority of their contemporaries.
Symbolism was an important communicative device that was used by the Pre-Raphaelites. Through the use of symbolism, they were able to convey complex themes more clearly. They were also able to illustrate subtle meanings, and infuse more depth of meaning, into their work… a veritable visual vocabulary, so to speak, resplendent in syntax.
Burne-Jones was proficient in stained-glass as well as painting.
I do not believe true originality comes from an effort to be original, but rather from an effort to clearly express a heartfelt conviction. Thereby, is great art born. Although understated and influenced by many of his contemporaries, Burne-Jones remains one of the most unique painters I can think of.
His use of unusual formats, brilliant compositions, and a command of numerous forms of painting makes his artwork stand out amongst a crowd. I think it is worth mentioning, that although he adopted many of the forms of his predecessors, and in fact conscientiously strove to line up with them, his work shows an individuality of voice that is still discernable.