THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF ART NEEDLEWORK, London (manufacturer)<br />
 William MORRIS (designer)<br />
 Edward BURNE-JONES (designer)<br/>
<em>Poesis</em> (c. 1880) <!-- (recto) --><br />

wool, cotton<br />
204.0 x 103.7 cm<br />
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br />
Purchased through The Art Foundation of Victoria with the assistance of Miss Flora MacDonald Anderson and Mrs Ethel Elizabeth Ogilvy Lumsden, Founder Benefactors, 1992<br />
CT1-1992<br />

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William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones Poesis c.1880

THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF ART NEEDLEWORK, London (manufacturer)
 William MORRIS (designer)

This monumental embroidery represents the muse of classical epic poetry, Calliope, who is seated with an open book and holding a quill. Her young son Morpheus, god of dreams, is by her side; while another son, Orpheus, god of music, is below playing the lyre. They are surrounded by eight more muses and seven sages, the latter representing the wisdom of mankind.