Psyche at Bath

[Burne-Jones, Edward]. [William Morris after Edward Burne-Jones]

Published by Publication Date: 1865

(circa 1865-81). Wood engraving, on single half-sheet of handmade Arches paper 19", engraved area 4 x 2 1/4", fine archival frame; a fine impression. § Edition unknown; a lovely original wood engraving, designed by Edward Burne-Jones and engraved probably by William Morris. Burne-Jones prepared some seventy drawings largely intended to illustrate the Cupid & Psyche section of Morris The Earthly Paradise. The originals are now at the Ashmolean in Oxford. Morris prepared blocks for at least 44 designs (cutting 35 himself) between 1865 and 1867 but they were never used for their intended purpose. Some few pulls date from this period, some very few sets were prepared (probably by Morris himself) by friction printing in 1881, eight sets (on paper with primrose and initials) were made not before April 1891 and a few further were taken around the turn of the century for an abortive edition by Longmans. So far we are aware of no other impressions made from the blocks until the Rampant Lions edition of 1974. This example most likely dates from 1881. Seller Inventory # 108128

Bibliographic Details

Title: Psyche at Bath
Publication Date: 1865