The Legend of Briar Rose by Edward Burne-Jones (Interpretation and Analysis)

The Rose Bower
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Among all the Pre-Raphaelite artists, the work of Edward Burne-Jones seems to have lingered longest and most successfully in society’s collective imagination. Like all Pre-Raphaelite artists, Burne-Jones was inspired by a desire to create serious and realistic art that was also pleasing to the eye. Pre-Raphaelite painters were not interested in “trivial” scenes of everyday life. Instead, they believed art should portray “serious” subjects, such as literature, poetry, mythology, and history.

The Briar Wood
Source: Wikimedia Commons

In particular, Burne-Jones drew inspiration from medieval art and topics, as can be seen in his series of paintings entitled The Legend of Briar Rose. The series, which includes four paintings, tells the story of Sleeping Beauty as related by the Brothers Grimm in their 1812 collection of European folktales; although, the legend of Sleeping Beauty actually dates back to at least the sixteenth century.

The Garden Court
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Interestingly, the four paintings don’t really tell a story in a narrative sense. Instead, Burne-Jones approaches the subject with a series of vignettes capturing moments within the story. The paintings depict (in order) soldiers sleeping outside Sleeping Beauty’s castle, the king asleep in his council chamber, the weavers asleep at their looms, and Sleeping Beauty asleep in her Rose Bower. Burne-Jones’ aims to capture the mood and energy of the story, romanticizing the medieval setting of the paintings with an aura of magic. 

The Council Chamber
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Because of the nature of the subject matter, there is no action in any of the paintings, giving them an oddly static quality. Although the romantic quality of the paintings is unique to the nineteenth century, the compositional style of the paintings seems very classical. Viewers are reminded of stately and solemn Greek friezes and the carefully posed figures that inhabit the work of early Renaissance painters such as Giotto. Burne-Jones thought carefully about the positioning of each figure in each painting, making hundreds of studies for the series.

Because of the popularity of the Sleeping Beauty story, the paintings from the Legend of Briar Rose series are among Burne-Jones’ most popular work with modern audiences. However, the series is much more remarkable for Burne-Jones’ masterful composition and the remarkable detail and skill exhibited in the paintings.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.