Hidden Burne-Jones throws new light on the draughtsmanship of leading Pre-Raphaelite artist, Edward Burne-Jones, by studying his development as an artist and image maker through his life-long commitment to drawing. Leading Burne-Jones specialist John Christian presents new research on Burne-Jones's drawing technique and stylistic development; Elisa Korb studies Burne-Jones’s depiction of the female form, his approach to using models, and the stylistic development of subjects such as the nude over the course of his career; and Tessa Sidey looks at Burne-Jones’s often uneasy relationship with his native city of Birmingham, and the work of major benefactors, especially local patrons J.R. Holliday and Charles Fairfax Murray, in helping to develop the Museum and Art Gallery’s internationally important holdings the artist’s work.

The volume illustrates 63 selected drawings and works on paper, with a complete catalogue listing of all 1,137 drawings, watercolours, prints and archive material at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery.