The Wheel of Fortune

The Wheel of Fortune by Edward Burne-Jones is now owned by the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, a highly prestigious art museum which underlines the artistic qualities of this painting.

There are direct influences from the Italian Renaissance to be found here, most obviously from the way in which Burne-Jones handles the muscle structure of the torso. It reminds us of the study drawings that Michelangelo created for many of his frescoes, with The Last Judgement being one such example. There is also drapery akin to the work of Sandro Botticelli.

Upon being exhibited, many art critics responded particularly positively to this piece and considered it to be one of his very best. It was also marked out as one of the highlights of the Pre-Raphaelite Movement, a group that this artist was not always entirely comfortable with being connected to. He saw himself as a craftsman rather than a professional artist and was most aligned to William Morris.

Myth and medieval legend were the inspiration for much of this artist's work, whether the medium be embroidery, drawing or painting. There were even theatre stage designs, whilst his work with stained glass windows would naturally be religiously-themed due to the needs of the donor.