Drawings and Sketches by Evelyn de Morgan (1850-1919)

Evelyn de Morgan took up a scholarship from the Slade School of Art in 1874 and later exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery to great acclaim. Throughout her career she made many preparatory sketches on paper for the large mythological paintings for which she is best known. Some of these are shown in this section.

However, in 1889 she exhibited something different at the Fine Art Society. Of special interest, these were her "Gold Drawings," artworks in their own right, mainly depicting the angels and biblical figures which were of great importance to her strongly held spiritual beliefs. Her methods here were unique: possibly influenced by Burne-Jones who used gold paint in some of his pictures, she bought pellets of dry pigment from the well-known art supplier, Roberson, which she then ground down to make paint and crayons of her own invention. These were applied to a particular kind of more darkly tinted woven paper, the firm lines of swirling drapery contrasting with softly smudged effects for flesh tones. — Shirley Nicholson

Finished Drawings

Studies for Identified Works

Study for In Memoriam
Study for the Third Standing Winged Angel towards the top of the stairs in Saint Christina Giving Her Father's jewels to the Poor
Study for the left-hand Female Supplicant standing on the Jetty in Saint Christina Giving Her Father's jewels to the Poor
Study for the standing Female Supplicant receiving jewels from Saint Christina in Saint Christina Giving Her Father's jewels to the Poor
Draped Figure Study with Accompanying Nude
Studies of Drapery, a foot and a female head for the figure of Eld in Love's Passing
Study for “Moonbeams Dipping into the Sea”
Study for an Angel in Gloria in Excelcis
Two Studies of a Pilgrim — one holding an open book, the other holding a staff and a book
Study (Head of a woman)
Study of Jane Morris for The Hourglass

Drapery Studies

Last modified 13 June 2022