Edward Coley Burne-Jones

Image not available

1833-1898

"Whisper, whisper": Illustration for "The Elf-Folk" (for Archibald Maclaren's "The Fairy Family")

London, 1854-1856

Pen and black ink on paper.

5 5/8 x 3 13/16 inches (143 x 97 mm)

Purchased as the gift of Mr. Frederick R. Koch.

1982.10:42

Notes:

Watermark: none.
Illustration for 1857 etched frontispiece depicting elf-folk in a moonlit wooded scene. The words 'whisper whisper" in white text appear at the top of the drawing, from the verse "Whisper, Whisper through the grove - / 'Tis the evening breeze / Telling all its tale of love/ To the aspen trees ... " from "The Elf-Folk".
Originally in the Album of Illustrations for Archibald MacLaren's "The Fairy Family : a Series of Ballads & Metrical Tales Illustrating the Fairy Faith of Europe," London, 1857.

Provenance:

Given by the artist to Archibald MacLaren, and thence by descent; sale, London, Sotheby's, 10 November 1981, lot 27, repr.

Associated names:

Maclaren, Archibald, 1819-1884, former owner.
Koch, Frederick R. (Frederick Robinson), donor.
Maclaren, Archibald, 1755-1826. Fairy family.

Bibliography:

Maclaren, Archibald. The Fairy Family. London: Longman & Co., 1857, frontispiece.
Maclaren, Archibald. The Fairy Family. London: Dalrymple Press, 1985, p. 19 (repr.)
Georgiana Burne-Jones, Memorials of Edward Burne-Jones, I, London, 1904, 100, 120, 135-136.
John Christian, "Burne-Jones Studies, I: Burne-Jones's Drawings for 'The Fairy Family,'" Burlington Magazine, cxv, no. 839, February 1973, 16, figs. 15-22.
M. Harrison and W. Waters, Burne-Jones, London, 1973, 16, figs. 15-22.
Burne-Jones, Hayward Gallery, London, and elsewhere, 1975, no. 9, repr.

Catalog link:

See more information »

Artist page:

Burne-Jones, Edward Coley

School:

Century:

Classification:

Department: