Design Card
Date
1875-1922
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
Dimensions 153mm X 245mm
Creator
Royal School of Needlework: Created by the Royal School of Art Needlework as miniaturised versions of designs. Original designs were miniaturised and either traced or copied onto 'Design Cards' which were sent out to clients for next day approval. This was part of the work of the 'Painting Room' sometimes referred to as the Paintroom, the department responsible for all design and draftsmanship.
Burne-Jones, Edward: Edward Burne-Jones (August 28, 1833—June 17, 1898) was a leading painter and designer of late 19th-century England. His romantic medieval imagery was part of the last phase of the Pre-Raphaelite style. He was part of the Arts and crafts movement and the revival of the idea of the “artist-craftsman,” he worked closely with William Morris and was also connected to the 'Holland Park set' and the 'Souls' a friend of Mrs Percy Wyndham one of the founders of the Royal School of Art Needlework he was asked to provide designs for the school in the 1870s.
Burne-Jones, Edward: Edward Burne-Jones (August 28, 1833—June 17, 1898) was a leading painter and designer of late 19th-century England. His romantic medieval imagery was part of the last phase of the Pre-Raphaelite style. He was part of the Arts and crafts movement and the revival of the idea of the “artist-craftsman,” he worked closely with William Morris and was also connected to the 'Holland Park set' and the 'Souls' a friend of Mrs Percy Wyndham one of the founders of the Royal School of Art Needlework he was asked to provide designs for the school in the 1870s.
Scope and content
Design card recording two printed versions of a design by Edward Burne-Jones from 1875 entitled Musica. It shows a group of female figures playing instruments (cymbals, a harp/lyre and flutes) around a seated figure of Apollo who is seated on a pedestal playing a lute with a bow. There is a leafy border and fruit trees in the upper background, the foreground shows wildflowers. The design was intended as a pair of hangings devoted to the arts and its counterpart is the design Poesis, sometimes described as a portiere (door curtain) for a music room.
This image was reproduced Fig 1 (p.62) of The Royal School of Art Needlework Handbook of Embroidery (1880). It was first seen by Princess Helena and Lady Alford of the RSN on 26 October 1875 when they visited the Artist's studio, Musica was first stitched under the supervision of Miss Burden (Elizabeth (Bessie) Burden, sister to Jane Morris) It was displayed at the the school in March 1876 among the objects intended to go to the Philadelphia International Centennial Exhibition and proclaimed by The Pall Mal Gazette as the 'most refined piece of work' on show but there is no mention of the panel in the press for the centennial exhibition and it may not have been displayed. Musica was also exhibited in 1879, Glasgow at the Royal School of Needlework Exhibition of Ancient, Oriental and Modern Embroidery.
The design was popular and worked on a number of occasions. Mrs. Madeline Wyndham, one of the founding council of the Royal School of Art Needlework, had cartoons of the design enlarged by the artist's assistant Charles Fairfax Murray and completed by the artist himself in 1881 when he stayed at her home Clouds. In the 1900s these cartoons were leant to the RSN to be copied. Lady Jane Cory (c.1820-1946) used the designs to embroider versions of Musica and Poesis she had 5 hours instruction in working faces from the RSN to help her complete Musica. They were completed in 1908 and following her death were acquired by the National Art Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand. https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/93068
References See p37 Lynn Hulse essay accompanying the re-print of The Royal School of Art Needlework Handbook of Embroidery, 2010
This image was reproduced Fig 1 (p.62) of The Royal School of Art Needlework Handbook of Embroidery (1880). It was first seen by Princess Helena and Lady Alford of the RSN on 26 October 1875 when they visited the Artist's studio, Musica was first stitched under the supervision of Miss Burden (Elizabeth (Bessie) Burden, sister to Jane Morris) It was displayed at the the school in March 1876 among the objects intended to go to the Philadelphia International Centennial Exhibition and proclaimed by The Pall Mal Gazette as the 'most refined piece of work' on show but there is no mention of the panel in the press for the centennial exhibition and it may not have been displayed. Musica was also exhibited in 1879, Glasgow at the Royal School of Needlework Exhibition of Ancient, Oriental and Modern Embroidery.
The design was popular and worked on a number of occasions. Mrs. Madeline Wyndham, one of the founding council of the Royal School of Art Needlework, had cartoons of the design enlarged by the artist's assistant Charles Fairfax Murray and completed by the artist himself in 1881 when he stayed at her home Clouds. In the 1900s these cartoons were leant to the RSN to be copied. Lady Jane Cory (c.1820-1946) used the designs to embroider versions of Musica and Poesis she had 5 hours instruction in working faces from the RSN to help her complete Musica. They were completed in 1908 and following her death were acquired by the National Art Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand. https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/93068
References See p37 Lynn Hulse essay accompanying the re-print of The Royal School of Art Needlework Handbook of Embroidery, 2010
Transcription
6ft 8 inches x 3ft 6.5 inches without border. Musica written on the banner The card is printed Royal School of Art Needlework at the top, 'It is respectful requested that Designs sent for selection be not kept for more than ONE CLEAR DAY. and to prevent damage in the post should be returned in the cards sent herewith. It is found necessary to make a charge for replacing designs returned in damaged conditiion' at the bottom.
Reference code
D1/006.a-b
© Royal School of Needlework