Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt., A.R.A., R.W.S

Given by the artist to Sir George and Lady Elizabeth Lewis,
thence by descent to the present owner

The pages of studies in this sale were originally bound in a sketchbook (sold Christie’s, London, 14 December 2016, lot 17 along with fifteen other pages split between lots 17-24) given by Burne-Jones to his friends Sir George and Lady Lewis and have never been exhibited or offered for sale. One of the pages in this lot formed the first page of the sketchbook and is dedicated to Elizabeth Lewis and dated 1881, presumably the date when the artist gave the gift. George Lewis was the most famous solicitor of his day – he made his name by representing the relatives of the poisoned Charles Bravo in the so-called Balham Mystery of 1876. Over a career of thirty years he was involved in nearly every cause célèbre that came to court in London – he extricated the Prince of Wales from the embarrassing Tranby Croft Baccarat Affair and various other scandals involving gambling and mistresses – his assistance led to him being granted a knighthood. In 1866 he married his second wife, the beautiful Elizabeth Eberstadt, a passionate devotee of the arts. Their home from 1876, 88 Portland Place was a magnet for artists and musicians and none were more welcome than Burne-Jones who became a great friend of them both and their children. Burne-Jones may have been in love with Elizabeth, like so many other younger women in his circle whose affection and attention he craved in later years; after his death she destroyed many of his letters, feeling they were too intimate to be allowed to survive for others to read. The charming illustrated letters that Burne-Jones sent to Lewis’ daughter Katie were published and show a wonderful paternal and humorous side of the artist.