Pygmalion And The Image – The Soul Attains
A hand-painted replica of Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones’s masterpiece Pygmalion And The Image – The Soul Attains, 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 titled Pygmalion and the Image. This series, completed between 1868 and 1870, is based on the myth of Pygmalion from 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. Burne-Jones's series consists of four panels, each depicting a different stage of the narrative. One of these panels is titled The Soul Attains.
In The Soul Attains, Burne-Jones illustrates the climactic moment when the statue, now transformed into a living woman, reciprocates Pygmalion's love. The painting captures the emotional intensity of this transformation and the fulfillment of Pygmalion's desires. The composition is characterized by Burne-Jones's signature style, which combines medieval-inspired aesthetics with a dreamlike quality. The figures are elongated and idealized, and the setting is imbued with a sense of timelessness, reflecting the artist's fascination with mythological and allegorical themes.
Burne-Jones's Pygmalion and the Image series was influenced by his interest in classical mythology and his admiration for the works of the Italian Renaissance. The series also reflects the broader Pre-Raphaelite interest in exploring themes of love, beauty, and the interplay between art and life. Burne-Jones's meticulous attention to detail and his use of rich, harmonious colors contribute to the ethereal and otherworldly atmosphere of the paintings.
The Pygmalion and the Image series was first exhibited at the Old Water-Colour Society in London in 1870. It was well-received by contemporary audiences and critics, who praised Burne-Jones's ability to convey the emotional depth of the myth through his art. The series has since been regarded as one of Burne-Jones's most significant works and a quintessential example of the Pre-Raphaelite approach to storytelling through painting.
Today, the panels from the Pygmalion and the Image series, including The Soul Attains, are held in the collection of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in the United Kingdom. They continue to be celebrated for their artistic and historical significance, offering insight into the Victorian fascination with classical mythology and the enduring appeal of Burne-Jones's visionary artistry.
