Luna

Luna (1870) depicts the Roman moon goddess, one of the classical deities whom Burne-Jones returned to throughout his career as vehicles for exploring particular qualities of light, beauty, and feminine cosmic power. The moon goddess—whether as Luna, Diana, or Selene—carried associations of cool, reflective, mysterious beauty that contrasted with the solar masculine principle and offered Burne-Jones a visual language for the night world of dreams and imagination. Produced on paper, the work is likely a study or independent drawing rather than a canvas-scale statement, but Burne-Jones consistently produced finished drawings that stood as independent aesthetic objects rather than mere preparation. The cool palette and nocturnal subject belong to his sustained exploration of goddesses as personifications of natural forces, part of the broader Aesthetic Movement's project of creating a secular sacred through classical mythology.

Executed on paper, likely in watercolor, gouache, or mixed media. The paper support allowed for a more intimate, exploratory approach than canvas, and the lunar subject would call for cool silver and blue tones achieved through transparent washes or carefully applied gouache highlights.