Edward Burne-Jones - Tate Britain - ★★★★ - Until February 24, 2019


This first solo Burne-Jones show at the Tate since 1933 reminds us that he is considerably more than just another one of the pre-Raphaelites. It is a shame when artists get lost in being simply part of a movement, so thanks to the Tate for singling out this work in this show. While Burne-Jones shared his bretherns' reverence for a pre-industrial world which he explored through depictions of various myths and legends, he was also a voice and an artist who deserves to be considered on his own merits. His unforgettable pictures with often entwined but disconnected figures staring unemotionally into a middle distance have an air of mystery and evoke a time that never was. The delightful humorous sketches and some drawings, like the study for the head of King Cophetua, give us a glimpse of the man behind the constructions of the cool reveries he is known for. They are well worth noting. With over one hundred and fifty objects on display, we also see his astonishing versatility in the wide variety of media he worked in.

Reviewed by J.C.

 Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆ 

WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until February 24, 2019
Daily: 10 am - 6 pm
Tate Britain
Nearest tube: Pimlico
https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/edward-burne-jones

Most Popular

St. Martin in-the-fields: Lunchtime Concerts ★★★★ FREE

Wright of Derby: From the Shadows ★★★★★ The National Gallery | Nov 7, 2025 - May 10, 2026

Fuseli and the Modern Woman: Fashion, Fantasy, Fetishism ★★★★ The Courtauld | Oct 14, 2022 - Jan 8, 2023

Coven ★★ Kiln Theatre | Until January 17, 2026

My Fair Lady ★★★★★ The Mill at Sonning | Nov 20, 2025 - Jan 17, 2026

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) ★★★★★ Criterion Theatre | Apr 4 - Aug 31, 2024

Porn Play ★★★ Royal Court Theatre | Nov 6 - Dec 13, 2025

End ★★★★ National Theatre | Nov 13 - Jan 17, 2026

David Copperfield ★★★★ Jermyn Street Theatre | Nov 20 - Dec 20, 2025

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold ★★★ @sohoplace | Nov 17, 2025 - Feb 21, 2026

The City Life Magazine | Reviews & Ratings