Epitaphs Inane

‘Pan and Psyche’, Sir Edward Burne-Jones (Originally posted at preraphaelitesisterhood.com) When Psyche is distraught over the loss of her love Eros, she attempts suicide in a river.  She survives and the god Pan offers her comfort and advice. Burne-Jones painted this version of Pan and Psyche after his lover, Mary Zambaco, attempted to throw herself in Regent’s Canal in an ugly and embarrassing scene.  It was the breaking point of an illicit relationship that was painful for all involved.  Burne-Jones had intense feelings for Mary but could not bring himself to abandon his children or his wife Georgie.  Mary had grown increasingly desperate and, upon the realization that he would not leave his family, presented Ned with a sufficient amount of Laudanum to kill them both.  In response to his shocked refusal, she ran to the river and he was forced to wrestle her to the ground. It is an ugly thing to write about.  Even though over a hundred years have passed, I feel uncomfortable blogging about something so personal and painful.  Yet, it is interesting to see how Burne-Jones depicted Mary after their affair ended.

‘Pan and Psyche’, Sir Edward Burne-Jones

(Originally posted at preraphaelitesisterhood.com)

When Psyche is distraught over the loss of her love Eros, she attempts suicide in a river.  She survives and the god Pan offers her comfort and advice.

Burne-Jones painted this version of Pan and Psyche after his lover, Mary Zambaco, attempted to throw herself in Regent’s Canal in an ugly and embarrassing scene.  It was the breaking point of an illicit relationship that was painful for all involved.  Burne-Jones had intense feelings for Mary but could not bring himself to abandon his children or his wife Georgie.  Mary had grown increasingly desperate and, upon the realization that he would not leave his family, presented Ned with a sufficient amount of Laudanum to kill them both.  In response to his shocked refusal, she ran to the river and he was forced to wrestle her to the ground.

It is an ugly thing to write about.  Even though over a hundred years have passed, I feel uncomfortable blogging about something so personal and painful.  Yet, it is interesting to see how Burne-Jones depicted Mary after their affair ended.

Two shelves devoted to nothing but Agatha Christie. I have every one of her books, except for a hard to find volume of poetry

Two shelves devoted to nothing but Agatha Christie. I have every one of her books, except for a hard to find volume of poetry

Collected works of Nathaniel Hawthorne Collected works of H. Rider Haggard Collected works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Collected works of Alexandre Dumas Collected works of William Shakespeare Collected works of Edgar Allan Poe Collected works of Victor Hugo Collected works of Honore de Balzac Collected works of Rudyard Kipling

Collected works of Nathaniel Hawthorne
Collected works of H. Rider Haggard
Collected works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Collected works of Alexandre Dumas
Collected works of William Shakespeare
Collected works of Edgar Allan Poe
Collected works of Victor Hugo
Collected works of Honore de Balzac
Collected works of Rudyard Kipling

Tennyson. Inscription inside says Christmas 1880

Tennyson. Inscription inside says Christmas 1880