Love and the Pilgrim

1890

Acclaim for the second “Legend of Briar Rose”

The second series of “The Legend of Briar Rose” was exhibited on its own and won admiration.

winter 1892 – 1893

New Gallery exhibition after a long illness

A long illness checked his work for a time; when he resumed, he was mostly occupied with decorative projects. In the winter of 1892–1893 an exhibition of his work was held at the New Gallery in London; his comparatively few portraits belong to this period.

3 May 1894

Created a baronet

In November 1893 he was sounded out about a baronetcy on the recommendation of the outgoing Prime Minister, Gladstone; in February 1894 he legally changed his name to Burne-Jones, and on 3 May he was created a baronet of Rottingdean and of the Grange. The honour made him unhappy, disgusted his socialist friend Morris and was scorned by his wife; only his son Philip, who would inherit the title, truly wanted it.

1896

Death of William Morris

After Morris’s death Burne-Jones’s health declined substantially. The last major commission the firm carried out in Morris’s lifetime was Stanmore Hall, with tapestries on the story of the Holy Grail whose figures were by Burne-Jones.

1898

Influenza and a sudden relapse

Burne-Jones had an attack of influenza and had apparently recovered when he was suddenly taken ill again; he died on 17 June. At the intervention of the Prince of Wales his memorial service was held at Westminster Abbey, the first time an artist had been so honoured.

17. juni 1898

Died