Set of 3 x A4 Kelmscott Chaucer Prints; Tale of the Wife of Bath; 3 A4 Prints with A3 frame-size mounts

Post Free to United Kingdom

Fine art prints of the Sir Edward Burne-Jones illustrations from the William Morris Kelmscott Chaucer.

Professional scanned images originate from a 1958 fine art reproduction of the original book. The prints have been individually printed onto fine art Hahnemuhle Baryta paper, using archival Ultrachrome K3 inks.

The artic white mounts compliment the woodcut prints perfectly.

This Offer:

• Set of 3 A4 prints mounted on professional 'artic white' mounts for a size A3 (29.6 x 42 cm) frame which you can purchase locally.
• UK Postage included in price.
• Description A4 Sheet  - useful for school/college display.

Canterbury Tales - The Tale of the Wife of Bath

The Canterbury Tales sees pilgrims meeting at the Tabard Inn in South London in 1386 and heading off to Canterbury with many stories to share as they travel. These three prints illustrate the Wife of Bath’s Tale. Her experience as a wife was clear; after all she had managed to have five already! The wife's tale is an exploration different types of justice as well as views on gender inequality. Sir Edward Burne-Jones illustrates the tale with three works that help tell the story like this:

i. The Knight Meets an Old Hag: Having committed rape King Arthur orders a young knight’s beheading. However Queen Guinevere offers an alternative punishment, with the Knight given a year to find the answer to the question: “What does every women desire?” Travelling the kingdom he struggled to find two people who could give the same answer. On his way back to King Arthur’s Court to face his destiny the Knight came across an Old Hag. She offered him the answer, which was that: “Women desire sovereignty over their husband”, but in return he must grant her one wish which was that she became his wife.

ii. Bedroom Scene I: After marrying, the Knight does not wish to consummate the marriage. His new wife offers him the choice of being married to someone who was ugly, old and low-class but also good and faithful, or someone young and beautiful but without the other qualities.

iii. Bedroom Scene II: On reflection the Knight suggests the women should choose which sort of wife she became. This granting of sovereignty was repaid with the wife becoming both beautiful and young but also faithful and good for the rest of their lives.