Why it matters
The legendary King Cophetua, who fell in love at first sight with the beggar Penelophon, is shown with her. Burne-Jones's picture of power and wealth overcome by beauty and simplicity became his greatest success of the 1880s.
Did you know?
- He declared it finished in April 1884, after working on it through the winter.
- The composition is influenced by Mantegna's Madonna della Vittoria.
- He had already tried the subject in 1861–62.
- It was hailed as the 'picture of the year' at the Grosvenor Gallery.
Based on the Wikipedia article King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid (painting) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
