The Sleep of King Arthur in Avalon

Burne-Jones’s late work shows him retreating into himself, evolving a mannered and highly personal style and returning to his early interest in Malory. The chief expression of this private world is The Sleep of King Arthur in Avalon (begun 1881), the colossal unfinished canvas on which he was working at his death.

According to Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte d’Arthur” (1470), King Arthur suffered a fatal wound in a battle against Mordred. He was later taken to the magical island of Avalon, where he fell into a deep slumber meant to last until summoned to return to earth once more. Burne-Jones was commissioned this work in 1881 by George Howard, who wished to decorate his personal library with an Arthurian subject. However, seeing that Burn-Jones became so involved with the work, he withdrew the commission, and the artist continued working on it for over twenty years, succumbing to illness before finishing the monumental painting.