Finding Aid for the Edward Burne-Jones Letters to Violet
Maxse 1892-1897
Processed by Rebecca Fenning.
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
University of California, Los Angeles
2520 Cimarron Street
Los Angeles, CA 90018
Phone: (323) 731-8529
Fax: (323) 731-8617
Email: rfenning@humnet.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/clarklib/
©2010
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Edward Burne-Jones Letters to Violet
Maxse,
Date (inclusive): 1892-1897
Collection number: MS.2010.010
Creator: Burne-Jones,
Edward Coley, 1833-1898
Extent:
2 boxed volumes
(4 linear inches)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles.
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Los Angeles, California 90095-1490
Abstract: Letters and drawings sent to Violet Maxse
(later Viscountess Milner) by Edward Burne-Jones.
Physical location: Clark Library
Language of Material: Collection materials in English
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the William Andrews Clark Memorial
Library, UCLA. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Clark Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the William Andrews
Clark Memorial Library, UCLA as the owner of the physical items and is
not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder,
which must also be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Edward Burne-Jones Letters to Violet Maxse,
MS.2010.010, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of
California, Los Angeles.
Acquisition Information
Clark Library purchase, 2010.
Processing History
Processed by Rebecca Fenning, June 2010.
Biography
Edward Coley Burne Jones was born in 1833 in Birmingham. He studied
theology at Exeter College, Oxford, where he became friends with William
Morris, and, like Morris, decided pursue a career in art instead of one in the Church.
Burne-Jones became one of the leading figures in the contemporary
British art world, closely allied with the pre-Raphaelites and with the
Aesthetic movement. A founding member (along with Morris) of the firm
Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, and Company, Burne-Jones was a significant force in the rebirth of stained glass design in England
and designed a number
of notable windows, though he was most known for his paintings.
Burne-Jones married Georgiana MacDonald in 1860, with whom he had 2
children, Philip and Margaret. He died in 1898.
One of Burne-Jones' many friends was Cecilia Steele Maxse, the
estranged wife of Admiral Frederick Augustus Maxse and the mother of
Violet (later Viscountess Milner) and Olive, who, in their own rights, became close friends of
Burne-Jones'. Violet, born in 1872, was the youngest
Maxse child. She had a great interest in art, and studied in Paris from March 1893-January 1894. In June 1894, she married
Lord Edward Cecil, a soldier and
foreign service officer with whom she traveled widely. Their marriage
was not a particularly happy one, and after Cecil's death in 1918,
Violet married Sir Alfred Milner, who died in 1925. After
her brother Leo's death in 1929, she took over editorship of the
National Review, owned by their family since 1893. She had 2 children
with Lord Cecil, George and Helen. She died in 1958.
Scope and Content
This collection comprises two bound albums containing letters and
drawings sent to Violet Maxse by Edward Burne-Jones from approximately
1892-1897. The casual and often comic tone of letters cover a range of
topics, including social events, Violet's first marriage to Lord Edward
Cecil, the death of William Morris and Burne-Jones' artistic work.
Several of the letters described in this finding aid are excerpted or quoted in Viscountess Milner's memoir
My Picture Gallery (London: John Murray, 1951) and the page number on which they letters appear are cited below, as appropriate.
The first album is bound in original forest green cloth over bevelled
boards, with the front cover embossed and decoratively panelled in
silver, black and gray. It contains 24 leaves of heavy stock (plus
endpapers) mounted on guards. The second album is bound in half black
morocco over black morocco grained cloth. The front cover is stamped in
gilt with the facsimile signature "Violet" and "Violet Maxse, October
1893" is inscribed in ink on the verso of the front free endpaper. It
contains 30 leaves of heavy stock (plus endpapers) which are all mounted
on guards. Both albums are housed in modern felt-lined clamshell cases
covered in William Morris designed fabric by James Brockman.
Arrangement
Items are described below in roughly chronological
order.
The majority of letters and drawings in the albums are not dated, or else
carry pencilled dates written by Violet Maxse (or another party). Items do not appear to be organized in the albums in any
kind of particular order. A
previous owner or book-dealer has pencilled identification numbers under
each item, which we use here. Letters are identified with numbers
beginning with "L" and drawings are identified with numbers beginning
with "S." Some items have multiple numbers as they contain multiple
drawings, sometimes in addition to written content.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Burne-Jones, Georgiana, Lady, 1840-1920
Burne-Jones, Philip, 1861-1926
Maxse,
Olive, 1866-1955
Milner,
Violet Georgina Milner, Viscountess, 1872-1958
Genres and Forms
Drawings (visual
works)--England--19th century
Letters--England--19th
century
Box 1, Pages 1-18
Clippings and published images of suffragists and "advanced
women,"
[ca. 1892-1895]
Scope and Content Note
Newspaper and periodical illustrations and photographs of suffragists
and what VM and EBJ called "advanced women." Multiple pages also have
portions of EBJ's stationary pasted down next to clippings.
Box 1, Item L-1, pp. 19-20
Letter from Georgiana Burne-Jones with newspaper clipping
enclosure,
[1892]
Scope and Content Note
Holograph note by VM above letter: "This letter came with the cutting
on opposite page." Clipping caption: "One Woman One Vote: Sketches at
the Women's Suffrage Meeting at St. James's Hall."
Box 2, Item S-37, L-42, p. 45
Letter with self-portrait,
[March 1893]
Scope and Content Note
Dated March 1893 in
My Picture Gallery, pp. 36-37. Written on VM's departure for
Paris and offering his serious opinion on her artwork, should she ever request it.
Signed with a sad-looking self-portrait of himself with a palette and
paints; this drawing is printed on p. 37 of
My Picture Gallery.
Box 2, Item S-38-39, L-43, p. 45
Letter in pencil with two self portraits,
[April 1893]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Written while ill with influenza and both self portraits
are of him sick in bed. Described on p. 36 of
My Picture Gallery.
Box 2, Item S-40-42, L-44-45, p. 47
Letter with drawings,
[1893]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Written to her during her time in Paris. Discusses his low
spirits, going to a play with "Mrs. Gaskell and Amy" and "Love in the
Ruins."
Box 1, Item L-9, S-2, pp. 29-30
Letter from EBJ with original envelope,
29 September 1893
Scope and Content Note
Written from bed when EBJ was ill. Talks about the Kelmscott Press
Chaucer and about his destroyed watercolor "Love in the ruins." Printed in
My Picture Gallery, p. 43.
Box 1, Item L-6, p. 26
Letter from EBJ,
[October 1893]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM.
Box 2, Item S-48, L-51, p. 57
Letter with drawing of Olive,
[ca. Fall 1893]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM (or another party) as 1895 in album, but dated as 1893 in
My Picture Gallery, p. 46. Drawing of Olive riding a rocking horse, and note about
meeting her in Battersea Park. The drawing of Olive is printed on p. 45 of
My Picture Gallery.
Box 1, Item L-7, p. 27
Letter from EBJ,
[1893]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Mentions social plans with Henry James.
Box 1, Item L-8, p. 28
Letter from EBJ,
[1893]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM.
Box 1, Item L-2, pp. 21-22
Letter from EBJ with newspaper clipping enclosures,
[1894]
Scope and Content Note
Dated 1894 by VM. Written from "Rottingdean, nr. Brighton" with 6
newspaper portraits of "advanced women."
Box 1, Item L-14, p. 34
Letter from EBJ,
[ca. January 1894]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Mentions "Love in the ruins" and the story of the lady
who married "Art." Printed in
My Picture Gallery, p. 47, where she dates it to her time in Paris.
Box 1, Item L-12, p. 33
Letter from EBJ,
[January 1894]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Mentions the Kelmscott Chaucer and "Love in the ruins."
Box 1, Item L-13, p. 34
Letter from Georgiana Burne-Jones,
22 January 1894
Scope and Content Note
Mentions work taking place in EBJ's studio and quotes from some of
William Morris' Icelandic proverbs.
Box 1, Item L-11, p. 32
Letter from EBJ,
[February 1894]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM.
Box 1, Item L-16, p. 35
Letter from EBJ,
[February 1894]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM.
Box 1, Item L-10, S-3, p. 31
Letter from EBJ,
[1894]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM as 1893, but more likely from 1894, as she did not become engaged until March of that year. Discusses her marriage,
contrasts his appearance with
his son Phil's appearance (illustrated with some small sketches) and
says "you shall have a drawing one day less silly."
Box 2, Item S-15, p. 19
Pencil drawing of EBJ hanging from a beam,
[ca. April 1894]
Scope and Content Note
Caption by VM: I had missed an appt. This came by the next post."
Caption by EBJ: "Farewell - may you be happy!"
Box 2, Item S-16, p. 21
Pencil drawing of EBJ's grave on "unconsecrated
ground,"
April 1894
Scope and Content Note
On Rottingdean stationary with a fake funeral border painted in ink.
With the heading by EBJ: "Unconsecrated ground, April 1894." Captioned
by VM: "and this in the following post."
Box 1, Item L-5, S-1, p. 25
Letter from EBJ with drawings,
June 1894
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Letter concerning her impending marriage, containing
little sketches throughout.
Box 1, Item L-3, p. 23
Letter from EBJ
17 June 1894
Scope and Content Note
Letter begins, "Isn't tomorrow your pretty wedding day?"
Box 2, Item S-12-14, L-36, p. 17
Letter from EBJ with drawings and enclosure,
[1894]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Letter concerning a social visit. With a self-portrait
of EBJ in an armchair and an imitation of a child's drawing, with the
caption "Draw me pictures in your letter. I love pictures from this
[image] upwards to Michael Angelo." A loose enclosure of a crest with
the letter "C" on it and the note, "bless her."
Box 2, Item S-43, L-46, p. 49
Letter with drawing,
[1894]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Drawing of men snoozing and reading papers at a club.
Discusses destroyed "Love in the ruins" watercolor.
Box 2, Item S-44-45, L-47 p. 51
Letter with self portrait and drawing,
[1894]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Drawing of Phil as an imp in the country and
self-portrait of EBJ looking sorrowful in a corner.
Box 2, Item S-11, p. 15
Ink drawing of the Last Supper tattooed on the back of Emma
Frank, The American Tattooed Lady,
[1894]
Box 1, Item L-25, p. 40
Letter from EBJ,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Includes, "I was going to write to you - to send you a
sympathetic howl about the loss of a friend whom I know you will
miss..." This probably refers to the death of VM's great friend Lord
Pembroke in Spring 1895.
Box 1, Item L-4, p. 24
Note from EBJ,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Note reads: "Another examination question - you ask
people 'who is this?' & then you unfold the paper & they are
surprised." The "paper" in question covers the name of Miss Emily
Faithful, whose newspaper portrait looks not unlike Oscar Wilde.
Box 1, Item L-15, p. 35
Letter from EBJ,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM.
Box 1, Item L-17, p. 36
Letter from EBJ,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM.
Box 1, Item L-18, p. 36
Letter from EBJ,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM.
Box 1, Item L-19, p. 37
Note from EBJ,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Reads: "Please Friday aft. for your exped'n to see
Morris & the printing press."
Box 1, Item L-20, p. 37
Letter from EBJ,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM.
Box 1, Item L-21, p. 38
Letter from EBJ,
[1895?]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM.
Box 1, Item L-22, p. 38
Letter from EBJ,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM.
Box 1, Item L-23, p. 39
Letter from EBJ,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Making plans for lunch.
Box 1, Item L-24, p. 39
Letter from EBJ,
[1895?]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM.
Box 1, Item L-26, p., 40
Letter from EBJ,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. About VM coming to visit.
Box 1, Item L-29, p. 42
Letter from EBJ,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Mentions VM's sister Olive.
Box 1, Item L-30, p. 42
Letter from EBJ,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Apologizes for lateness in responding to letters.
Box 2, Item S-35, p. 43
Ink drawing of a man sleeping at his club,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. With a caption by VM: "In a man's club."
Box 2, Item S-46, L-48, p. 53
Letter with horse drawings,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. About William Morris's illness.
Box 2, Item L-49, p. 55
Letter from EBJ,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Possibly incomplete and related to L-50. Contains many translation jokes to be shared with VM's husband, Lord
Edward Cecil.
Box 2, Item S-47, L-50, p. 55
Letter with self-portrait,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Possibly incomplete and related to L-49.
Box 2, Item S-49, L-52, p. 57
Letter with self-portrait,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Discusses a letter from Olive. Self-portrait of EBJ with
a palette and brush.
Box 2, Item S-50, L-53, p. 59
Letter with drawing,
[1895]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Discusses social plans. Drawing of a smiling baby
instead of a signature.
Box 2, Item S-32-34, L-41, p. 39
Letter with 3 drawings,
undated [bef. October 1896]
Scope and Content Note
Letter regarding plans to go to Kelmscott house. Includes a
self-portrait of EBJ looking forlorn, a fat lady, and a caricature of
his face with a long beard in place of a signature.
Box 1, Item L-27, p. 41
Letter from EBJ,
[ca. October 1896]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. On the death of William Morris in October 1896.
Box 1, Item L-28, p. 41
Letter from EBJ,
[1896]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Discusses how he has "been in the dumps" because of
friend's illnesses and deaths, as well as his own anxieties.
Box 1, Item L-31, p. 43
Letter from EBJ,
[1896]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM.
Box 1, Item L-32, p. 44
Letter from EBJ,
[1896?]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Making plans for a visit.
Box 1, Item L-33, p. 44
Letter from EBJ,
[1896]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Mentions seeing VM's mother and sister, and puts off a
visit with VM until she is "stronger."
Box 1, Item L-34, p. 45
Letter from EBJ,
[1896]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. About VM canceling a planned visit.
Box 1, Item L-35, p. 46
Letter from EBJ,
[1897]
Scope and Content Note
Dated by VM. Postponing a date, and apologizing for talking about
Cecil Rhodes.
Box 2, Item S-4, p. 1
Drawing of lobsters and a crab,
undated
Box 2, Item S-5
Octopus sketches,
undated
Box 2, Item S-6, p. 5
Fat lady drawing in pencil,
undated
Box 2, Item S-8, p. 9
Phil as an imp, reclined,
undated
Box 2, Item S-9, p. 11
Phil as an imp, putting on trousers,
undated
Box 2, Item S-10, p. 13
Sketch of a hairy knee,
undated
Box 2, Item S-17, p. 21
Pencil sketch of a fat lady,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Possibly an enclosure sent with L-37.
Box 2, Item S-18-19, L-37 p. 23
Letter from EBJ with ink drawings,
undated
Scope and Content Note
About a missed visit. Includes a self-portrait of EBJ looking
forlorn, and a fat lady.
Box 2, Item S-20, S-21, p. 25
Pencil sketches of "what he ordered at the tailor" and "the
result,"
undated
Scope and Content Note
Captions by VM.
Box 2, Item S-22-27, pp. 27-30
Ink drawings of fat ladies,
undated
Box 2, Item S-28, p. 31
Ink drawing of a fat lady with a note about social
plans,
undated
Box 2, Item L-38, p. 32
Note from EBJ,
undated
Scope and Content Note
"I liked the lady so much that I could not fold her up into the
envelope." Not clear which "lady" this refers to. Possibly S-29.
Box 2, Item S-29, L-39, p. 39
Ink drawing of a fat lady,
undated
Scope and Content Note
With the caption "I rather like this lady - don't you? I am quite
sorry to fold her up into the envelope."
Box 2, Item S-30, L-40, p. 35
Ink drawing of two fat ladies, with note,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Note regarding the weather and social plans, as well as the two
ladies in the drawing.
Box 2, Item S-31, p. 37
Ink drawing of Phil as an imp,
undated
Scope and Content Note
With caption "a little softened is Phil at present."
Box 2, Item S-35, p. 47
Drawing of the "Dirrell Baby" possibly by Olive
Maxse,
undated
