Troy Triptych – Compositional Study 1870 - 1872

Edward Burne-Jones created this compositional study for a triptych about the Trojan War during the late 19th century, a period marked by the Victorian era's complex relationship with classicism. Burne-Jones, deeply inspired by classical literature, uses the aesthetic of antiquity to explore themes relevant to his time. The triptych form itself, traditionally used for Christian religious art, is here applied to pagan subject matter, reflecting a Victorian fascination with reinterpreting classical narratives. The figures, while classical in form, possess an ethereal quality. Consider how Burne-Jones, as a male artist, engages with stories of war and heroism, and also female beauty and tragedy through a male gaze which was typical of the Victorian era. The study’s incomplete nature—from detailed rendering to mere sketches—invites us to contemplate the artistic process and the artist's evolving vision. It underscores the emotional depth and cultural anxieties projected onto historical subjects.