{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O88844"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O88844/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AN9374/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AN9374/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AN9374","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O88844/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O88844","accessionNumber":"584-1898","objectType":"Design","titles":[{"title":"Tree of Life","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This watercolour represents one of several large-scale decorations that Burne-Jones undertook for St Paul's Within-the-Walls, the American Episcopal Church in Rome. It shows the design fitted into a lobed space above the second chancel arch. Its subject is Christ crucified before a Tree of Life, the latter symbolising the eternal life that he died to give. Unusually, Christ is flanked by Adam and Eve rather than the traditional figures of St John and the Virgin Mary. The sheaves of corn allude to Adam's curse to till the fields. The thorns of the brier rose, juxtaposed with the lilies, symbolic of purity, refer to Eve's sinfulness. The Latin inscription means, 'you shall have affliction in the world, but have faith, for I have overcome the world'. The decoration was executed in mosaic, a medium much used in 5th- and 6th-century Byzantine decorations. Burne-Jones greatly admired their simplified forms.","physicalDescription":"Study for a mosaic depicting the Tree of Life. It is within a trefoil arch, with the tree in the centre and Christ in the centre of the tree with his arms held out either side of him. On the right is Eve with two nude babies, one of which she holds. On the left is Adam with his hands held together in prayer.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Burne-Jones, Edward Coley (Sir)","id":"A8203"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"watercolour (paint)","id":"AAT15045"},{"text":"gouache","id":"AAT70114"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing (image-making)","id":"AAT54196"},{"text":"painting (image-making)","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Watercolour and gouache","categories":[{"text":"Designs","id":"THES48968"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"Biblical imagery","id":"THES253006"}],"styles":[{"text":"Pre-Raphaelite","id":"AAT21225"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2006AN9374"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"A","id":"THES304301"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"designs","id":"AAT102051"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1888","earliest":"1888-01-01","latest":"1888-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"181","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"242","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"201","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"frame dimensions","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"262","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"frame dimensions","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"5.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"frame dimensions","note":""},{"dimension":"","value":"","unit":"","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"Measurement taken at time of assessment prior to BH decant - Frame Dimensions (mm): H-2010 W-2168 D-50;\nPainting Dimensions (mm): not measured"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Tree of Life: Study for American Episcopal Church mosaics by Edward Burne-Jones, 1888.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Livingstone, Karen & Parry, Linda (eds.), <i>International Arts and Crafts</i>, London : V&A Publications, 2005","id":"AUTH357959"},"details":"no. 2.13","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Harrison, Colin, Newall, Christopher and Spadoni, Claudio, <i>i Preraffaelliti. il sogno del'400 italiano da Beato Angelico a Perugino da Rossetti a Burne-Jones</i> Milano: Silvana Editorale Spa, Cinisello Balsamo, 2010","id":"AUTH354801"},"details":"no.142","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Harrison, Colin, Newall, Christopher and Spadoni, Claudio, <1>The Pre-Raphaelites and Italy</i> Oxford : Ashmolean, 2010","id":"AUTH354800"},"details":"no.142","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Jesus Christ","id":"N1515"},{"text":"Adam","id":"N560"},{"text":"Eve","id":"N561"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[{"text":"The Nativity","id":"V23"},{"text":"The Crucifixion","id":"V106"}],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"tree","id":"x37637"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["584-1898"],"accessionNumberNum":"584","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1898,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN0625","2019LN2902","2019LP8847","2019LP8029","2019LW8991","2019LW4569"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-21","recordCreationDate":"2004-01-08","availableToBook":true}}