King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid 1884

Edward Burne-Jones painted *King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid* using oil on canvas. The composition is vertically oriented and stage-like, with the figures arranged across different levels of architectural space. The subdued palette, dominated by browns, reds, and blues, enhances the painting's dreamlike and melancholic atmosphere. Burne-Jones was a key figure of the Aesthetic movement, he was less concerned with narrative and more interested in beauty, and the painting reflects these ideals. Note how Burne-Jones uses the architecture not just as a backdrop but as a structural element which divides the social hierarchy within the frame. The contrast between the king in armor and the simply dressed maid underscores the Pre-Raphaelite interest in themes of love, purity, and social contrast. This painting, with its detailed textures and carefully constructed composition, invites us to consider how visual elements create meaning and how the artwork destabilizes established social categories. The painting remains a complex interplay of form and content, endlessly inviting re-interpretation.