Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898)

Launcelot at the Chapel of the Holy Grail

Burne-Jones was closely associated with the Pre-Raphaelites and also the Aesthetic Movement which prized mood and atmosphere over literal representation. Like William Morris, Burne-Jones had a great love of the medieval world. The tales of the Round Table found in Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur provided particular inspiration.

This painting is based on a design for Holy Grail tapestries commissioned from William Morris in 1890. Launcelot has arrived at the chapel containing the holy grail but because of his sinful affair with King Arthur's wife Guinevere he cannot enter and instead falls asleep. The painting has a strange dreamlike quality common to much of Burne-Jones's work.

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