This beautiful painting hangs in the Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight where I saw it recently.
I had previously seen it in books and thought it a beautiful painting but I was thrilled when I saw it in real life.
The painting shows the infatuated Merlin who has been enchanted into a deep sleep by the Lady of the Lake, Nimue. Nimue reads Merln’s book of spells so she has the secrets of his magic.
Edward Burne–Jones and William Morris shared a passion for medieval stories throughout their friendship and Burne–Jones continued to feature them in his paintings throughout his life.