Two Wood Sprites

1883

Shows “The Wheel of Fortune”

The almost sombre “Wheel of Fortune” was shown in 1883; it was followed in 1884 by “King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid”, in which he once more indulged his love of gorgeous colour.

1884

Legion of Honour for “King Cophetua”

Burne-Jones received the Legion of Honour for his painting “King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid”.

1885

President of the Birmingham Society of Artists

Burne-Jones became president of the Birmingham Society of Artists. At about the same time he began hyphenating his name — merely, as he later wrote, to avoid “annihilation” in the mass of Joneses.

1886

“The Depths of the Sea”, his only Academy showing

Elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1885, he exhibited there the following year for the only time, showing “The Depths of the Sea”, a mermaid carrying down a youth she has unconsciously drowned in the impetuosity of her love.

1887–1888

Exhibits pictures of the Perseus cycle

One picture of “The Story of Perseus” was exhibited in 1887 and two more in 1888, together with “The Brazen Tower”, inspired by the same legend. The Perseus series was never completed.