"E. Burne-Jones."
Crusoe Visits the old Captain.
FROM "ROBINSON CRUSOE."
By J. D. Watson, R.W.S.
By permission of Messrs. George Routledge & Sons.
His connection with the Society was of short duration, owing to an unfortunate incident connected with an early exhibit of his. If we remember rightly, the picture was of a classic, semi-nude character, at which some "great lady" had felt very much shocked; in fact, to such an extent that she said it ought to be taken off the walls, as it was quite indecent. This the committee foolishly did, with the result that Burne-Jones at once resigned his membership—a course followed by his friend Sir F. W. Burton, at that time one of their most prominent members. It is only just to state that many years after, both men were urgently invited to return to the Society, and did so. But Burne-Jones never sent much of his work there, for fresh and larger fields had opened up to him at "The Grosvenor Gallery," followed by "The New," at both of which he was a great power. His work was always grand in subject, with the highest aim and noblest purpose. He was elected into the Royal Academy, but these other connections held him so close that he resigned his Associateship to make room for others to whom the honour would be of more importance.
The death of this highly gifted artist, who in himself combined all that is good, kindly, and generous, was universally regarded as a sad loss to the world of art.