Lot 17Edward Burne-Jones
British, 1833-1898
May Margaux, a Study for Clerk Saunders, circa 1859-1865
Stamped EBJ (ur), inscribed Clerk Saunders/May Margaux (lr) and inscribed Clerk Saunders/May Margaux in pencil (ll)
Graphite pencil on paper
13 1/2 x 6 5/8 inches (34.3 x 17 cm)

This sheet is a study for Burne-Jones's painting Clerk Saunders now in the Tate Gallery. The painting illustrates an English folk ballad of the same name. The figure depicted in the drawing is the heroine of the story, May Margaux, who is seduced by Saunders, who is himself then killed by one of her brothers. The drawing is a fine example of Burne-Jones's Pre-Raphaelite period, which spanned from about 1859 to 1864. The model was apparently Elizabeth Siddal, herself a Pre-Raphaelite artist and the wife of the painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

We are grateful to Dr. Elisa Korb of Misericordia University for confirming the attribution to Burne-Jones, based on photographs, and for her assistance in cataloguing this lot.

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Sold for $1,500
Estimate $2,000-4,000

Toned. Matburn. Foxing. 3/4 inch horizontal repaired tear in the upper right register (upper right corner) and a 2 inch diagonal tear in the upper right corner. Some handling creases in the lower right corner. There is old glue residue, verso and the work is hinged with two pieces of tape along the upper register verso.


Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Doyle New York shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging.