Graham Piano or The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice - Edward Burne Jones (PRB)
Graham Piano or The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice -- E.Burne Jones (PRB) The story of Orpheus obviously lent itself to the decoration of a musical instrument, and Burne-Jones did in fact adapt the ten pencil drawings when painting the so-called 'Graham' or 'Orpheus' Piano in 1879-80. This famous instrument (private collection) was commissioned by his great patron William Graham as a twenty-first birthday present for his daughter Frances Jane (1858-1940), herself one of the artist's most intimate friends. Made by the firm of Broadwood, the piano was both designed and decorated by Burne-Jones, whose idea was to replace the curves and bulges of the standard Victorian grand with a simpler and more vigorous design based on the harpsichord. The result was so popular that Broadwood was encouraged to market it commercially, although the original version, elaborately decorated by Burne-Jones and his assistants, remains unique. Music: Christoph Willibald Gluck - Orfeo ed Euridice -- "Dance of the Blessed Spirits"
