This drawing is a study of Medusa in 'The Death of Medusa' from the 'Perseus' series. However, it should be noted that this design of Medusa was abandoned by Burne-Jones in both the finished paintings at Southampton and the Staatsgalerie; in those versions she is seen from behind instead, although the body is essentially in the same pose, with the placement of hands altered. Burne-Jones used the frontal pose of Medusa, based on this sketch, in a preparatory study for 'The Death of Medusa', in a private collection in England. |