Property from the Baldwin FamilySir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt., A.R.A., R.W.S.British1833 - 1898Portrait of a Young Woman, Thought to be Miss Augusta Jones (recto); Two Caricatures of William Morris (verso)
inscribed POETA NON FIT on the reversecoloured chalk and pencil on paperUnframed: 50 by 36cm., 19¾ by 14in.Framed: 67 by 55cm., 26¼ by 21¾in.Condition reportThe sheet is hinged to the mount in two places along the upper edge. There is some light time staining to the sheet otherwise the work is in good condition, ready to hang.
Please note that Condition 12 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.ProvenanceGiven by the artist to Edward Poynter by whom given to Alfred Baldwin and thence by descent through the Baldwin family to the present ownerCatalogue noteAnne Maria (also known as Augusta or Gussie) Jones was one of three sisters from Hull who made a living in London as artist’s models. Her sister Mary Emma was an actress who used the stage name ‘Miss Clive’ – she was Fred Sandy’s muse and mistress and appears in many of his best pictures. Emelie Eyre (Milly) Jones, the youngest of the sisters, was also an actress and modelled for Albert Moore, Leighton, Whistler and for Sandys. Gussie also posed for the Pre-Raphaelite circle and amongst those who celebrated her strong profile and wealth of golden hair were Charles Halle, Rossetti, Simeon Solomon and Edward Poynter to whom this drawing was given by his brother-in-law Edward Burne-Jones as a demonstration of their mutual artistic attraction to her. Georgiana Burne-Jones described her as ‘a noble looking girl’ for whom the artist had ‘much regard and respect’ (Georgiana Burne-Jones Memorials of Edward Burne-Jones London, 1904, p. 302, p. 360) She posed for several important pictures by Burne-Jones in the 1860s, including the watercolour Astrologia of 1865 (Christie’s, New York, 11 July 2011, lot 12) and in the contemporary oil painting Princess Sabra in the Garden (Musée d’Orsay). She seems to have ceased modelling in the later 1860s, perhaps when she married the designer and architect Frederick Vincent Hart.
On the reverse of the present drawing are two humorous caricatures by Burne-Jones of his closest friend William Morris One of the sketches is inscribed 'Poeta non Fit' (the poet is not yet done) and depicts the great designer and writer, pompously leaning against a pedestal and orating to an unseen audience. The other sketch depicts him slumped in his chair and continuing to orate with little care about whether he is being listened to. Both Burne-Jones and Poynter were very fond of Morris but had also had to endure interminably long evenings in which he had insisted on reading to them at length from his epic poems and translations. Georgiana Burne-Jones admitted that she had sometimes had to bite her own fingers or stick pins in herself to prevent her falling asleep when Morris was in a particularly verbal mood. The caricatures were clearly shared with Poynter to tease Morris and Burne-Jones could sometimes be cruel in his humour towards Morris, but here it is more gentle. It is typical of other examples in the British Museum which poke fun at Morris’ and his speeches.
Property from the Baldwin FamilySir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt., A.R.A., R.W.S.British1833 - 1898Portrait of a Young Woman, Thought to be Miss Augusta Jones (recto); Two Caricatures of William Morris (verso)
inscribed POETA NON FIT on the reversecoloured chalk and pencil on paperUnframed: 50 by 36cm., 19¾ by 14in.Framed: 67 by 55cm., 26¼ by 21¾in.Condition reportThe sheet is hinged to the mount in two places along the upper edge. There is some light time staining to the sheet otherwise the work is in good condition, ready to hang.
Please note that Condition 12 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.ProvenanceGiven by the artist to Edward Poynter by whom given to Alfred Baldwin and thence by descent through the Baldwin family to the present ownerCatalogue noteAnne Maria (also known as Augusta or Gussie) Jones was one of three sisters from Hull who made a living in London as artist’s models. Her sister Mary Emma was an actress who used the stage name ‘Miss Clive’ – she was Fred Sandy’s muse and mistress and appears in many of his best pictures. Emelie Eyre (Milly) Jones, the youngest of the sisters, was also an actress and modelled for Albert Moore, Leighton, Whistler and for Sandys. Gussie also posed for the Pre-Raphaelite circle and amongst those who celebrated her strong profile and wealth of golden hair were Charles Halle, Rossetti, Simeon Solomon and Edward Poynter to whom this drawing was given by his brother-in-law Edward Burne-Jones as a demonstration of their mutual artistic attraction to her. Georgiana Burne-Jones described her as ‘a noble looking girl’ for whom the artist had ‘much regard and respect’ (Georgiana Burne-Jones Memorials of Edward Burne-Jones London, 1904, p. 302, p. 360) She posed for several important pictures by Burne-Jones in the 1860s, including the watercolour Astrologia of 1865 (Christie’s, New York, 11 July 2011, lot 12) and in the contemporary oil painting Princess Sabra in the Garden (Musée d’Orsay). She seems to have ceased modelling in the later 1860s, perhaps when she married the designer and architect Frederick Vincent Hart.
On the reverse of the present drawing are two humorous caricatures by Burne-Jones of his closest friend William Morris One of the sketches is inscribed 'Poeta non Fit' (the poet is not yet done) and depicts the great designer and writer, pompously leaning against a pedestal and orating to an unseen audience. The other sketch depicts him slumped in his chair and continuing to orate with little care about whether he is being listened to. Both Burne-Jones and Poynter were very fond of Morris but had also had to endure interminably long evenings in which he had insisted on reading to them at length from his epic poems and translations. Georgiana Burne-Jones admitted that she had sometimes had to bite her own fingers or stick pins in herself to prevent her falling asleep when Morris was in a particularly verbal mood. The caricatures were clearly shared with Poynter to tease Morris and Burne-Jones could sometimes be cruel in his humour towards Morris, but here it is more gentle. It is typical of other examples in the British Museum which poke fun at Morris’ and his speeches.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
