The Beguiling of Merlin

Edward Burne-Jones' 'The Beguiling of Merlin' (1872-1877) is a beautiful painting... with the one exception - Merlin's creepy old-lady-face (seriously, Eddy B-J, what is that?). I chose to paint from it mainly because I like all the colours and folds of Nimue's dress. Nimue, by the by, is the legendary 'Lady of the Lake' (an archaic 'Jenny from the Block' if you please) who, in the Arthurian stories, either dished out swords, resurrected knights, or in this case... seduced and imprisoned a wizard.


The PreRaphaelites loved their 'fallen women'; ladies whom, in almost every case, were destroyed by various forms of love:- unrequited, tragic, adulterous, immoral; pick your poison. In today's society such women simply strap on a push-up bra and call the News Of The World, but in the stories depicted in PRB paintings they used magic... sexy magic.

In 'The Beguiling of Merlin' Nimue reads from her book of spells, and an infatuated Merlin wilts like a horny flower. She uses his love for her to pursuade him to teach her all he knows. Once taught, she imprisons him and hits the road. The lack of Merlin's help eventually contributes to Arthur's downfall... it's like Adam 'n' Eve all over again. Bloomin' women.

Fun Fact! The model was Maria Zambaco, believed to be Burne-Jones' mistress. She pops up all over the shop in his work. Go have look for yourself, it's like a very high-brow game of Where's Wally?.
 

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