Inspirational Art of Edward Burne-Jones

The master to inspire this week's painting is Edward Burne-Jones. He was an English painter, illustrator, stained-glass window designer and tapestry artist who lived between the years 1833 and 1898. Burne-Jones' inspirational paintings are visual descriptions that transport us into an ideal world of higher values. His canvases reflect his passion for ancient mythology and his love for art. Like filmmakers who adapt novels, Burne-Jones was the 19th century equivalent who transformed tales and legends into spectacular visual images of love, sorrow, betrayal and compassion. Inspirational paintings of Burne-Jones go beyond beauty and aesthetic. They uplift our spirit and inspire our sensual pleasure. They reflect how people desire things to be and not how they appear in reality. Burne-Jones draws inspirations from his own dream world instead of a realistic depiction of life. He shows no interest in the political and social themes of his own era. Instead, his imagination delights in inspiring stories that combine dream with a mood of romantic mysticism. Some of Burne-Jones' inspirational artworks reflect the stories of medieval chivalry. They are based on heroic tales of triumph of good over evil. Some of his larger canvases are inspirational art based on a number of Greek myths. They depict the main episodes of the legends to form engaging narratives. Burne-Jones was raised by his father after his mother died in childbirth. He never intended to be a painter. His ambition was to become a minister, so he began studying theology at Oxford University. After meeting William Morris at Oxford, his interest shifted to art and poetry of medieval period and made him decide to devote his life to art. He later sought an apprenticeship with Pre-Raphaelite painter and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti. He learned from Rossetti the artistic skills that launched his career. Even though Burne-Jones abandoned his theology studies, religion still played a huge part of his artistic output. He created many stained glass windows for several major churches. Burne-Jones' paintings were incredibly popular during his lifetime, but after his death in 1898, he fell out of critical favor. Today, however, after near two centuries, Burne-Jones' mystical style inspirational art is rapidly becoming once again the trendsetter he was during his own lifetime.