The present lot appears to be a study for the draped head of the Virgin Mary in the 1890 watercolour The Star of Bethlehem (Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery). The use of terracotta paper is typical of the period from 1887-18901in which he was working on the commission, although there are other studies for the picture in pencil on white paper (for example Tate N04110). The angle of the head is not the same as in the final work, but the drapery is very similar.
The Star of Bethlehem was commissioned by the Corporation of the City of Birmingham in 1887 for the new Museum and Art Gallery. It was the largest watercolour Burne-Jones ever made, at 101 x 152 in, and he composition was based on the designs Burne-Jones made for the Adoration of the Magi tapestry created by Burne-Jones and William Morris for Exeter College, Oxford.
We are grateful to Scott Buckle for his help in identifying the subject of this drawing.