Pygmalion and the Image: II The Hand Refrains

Edward Burne-Jones

Date: 1875-78

Materials: Oil on canvas

A smaller first series of the oils was painted in 1868-69. This second set has some differences of detail, and generally shows the brighter, crisper handling of Burne-Jones's mature style, by this date fully divorced from earlier Pre-Raphaelite influence.

The figures in this second version remain essentially unaltered, although Galatea's features have been re-modelled. Burne-Jones has slightly simplified the rich, angular folds of Pygmalion's robe and cloak, for which a splendid pencil study exists at Birmingham, presumably of circa 1870.