King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid
- Artist: Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt
- Date: 1884
- Medium: Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions: support: 2934 x 1359 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
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About this artwork
This is the "King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid" by Sir Edward Coley Burne‑Jones, Bt, painted in 1884 as an oil on canvas. The work is based on Alfred Tennyson’s poem ‘The Beggar Maid’, in which King Cophetua of Ethiopia sees a young beggar, Penelophon, and is struck by her beauty and kindness. He falls in love with her, they marry, and she becomes queen. The scene is set in a twilight interior, with courtly details: a balcony, a crown, armour, and the gentle glow of evening light. Critics praised the painting for its exquisite technical skill—rich colour, detailed drapery, and the soft modelling of faces. More importantly, the piece conveys a timeless message that love can transcend wealth and power, a theme that resonated strongly with Victorian audiences. Burne‑Jones’s masterful use of symbolism and narrative earned him recognition as the leading symbolist painter of his generation, and this work is often regarded as his greatest achievement.
See it in person
King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
