Pygmalion And The Image – The Heart Desires
A hand-painted replica of Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones’s masterpiece Pygmalion And The Image – The Heart Desires, meticulously crafted by professional artists to capture the true essence of the original. Each piece is created with museum-quality canvas and rare mineral pigments, carefully painted by experienced artists with delicate brushstrokes and rich, layered colors to perfectly recreate the texture of the original artwork. Unlike machine-printed reproductions, this hand-painted version brings the painting to life, infused with the artist’s emotions and skill in every stroke. Whether for personal collection or home decoration, it instantly elevates the artistic atmosphere of any space.
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, a prominent British artist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement, created a series of paintings collectively known as Pygmalion and the Image. This series, completed between 1868 and 1870, is inspired by the classical myth of Pygmalion as recounted in Ovid's Metamorphoses. The myth tells the story of Pygmalion, a sculptor who falls in love with a statue he has carved, which is later brought to life by the goddess Venus in response to his prayers.
One of the paintings in this series, titled The Heart Desires, is the first of four panels that narrate the story. In this initial scene, Burne-Jones depicts Pygmalion as a solitary figure, consumed by his longing for an idealized form of beauty. The composition reflects the artist's characteristic style, with elongated figures, intricate details, and a dreamlike atmosphere. The muted color palette and the careful arrangement of elements in the painting emphasize the sculptor's introspection and yearning.
Burne-Jones's Pygmalion and the Image series was influenced by his fascination with mythology, literature, and the ideals of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, which sought to revive the detail, color, and complexity of early Renaissance art. The series also reflects the Victorian era's interest in themes of love, transformation, and the power of art. Burne-Jones's work often explored the intersection of the human and the divine, and this series is no exception, as it portrays the miraculous animation of the statue as a divine act.
The Pygmalion and the Image series was first exhibited at the Old Water-Colour Society in 1870 and received critical acclaim for its poetic and imaginative qualities. The paintings are now housed in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in the United Kingdom, where they remain an important part of Burne-Jones's artistic legacy.
Burne-Jones's interpretation of the Pygmalion myth has been praised for its emotional depth and its ability to convey the sculptor's inner world. The Heart Desires sets the tone for the series, capturing the initial spark of longing that drives the narrative forward. Through his meticulous technique and symbolic imagery, Burne-Jones invites viewers to reflect on the transformative power of love and creativity.
