Angeli Laudantes 1894

Edward Burne-Jones made this watercolor titled 'Angeli Laudantes'. The painting's matte surface is quite different from an oil painting, giving a sense of lightness to the scene. Burne-Jones built the design up carefully using fine, transparent layers of pigment. The overall effect is delicate, particularly in the angels' robes and wings. We can tell that Burne-Jones engaged with a long tradition of watercolor painting here. This medium was often considered a 'lesser' art form than oil painting, more aligned with craft traditions. Burne-Jones uses it to great effect, creating a dreamlike and ethereal vision. The figures seem to float in space, their forms defined by subtle gradations of color. With its understated beauty, 'Angeli Laudantes' challenges our expectations of what a 'finished' artwork should look like. It elevates the status of watercolor painting to the level of high art. Burne-Jones demonstrates that true artistry lies not in the materials used, but in the skill and vision of the artist.