Sir Lancelot in the Queen's Chamber

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Date: 1857

Materials: Pen and black and brown ink

Arthurian legend

Subjects from the legend of King Arthur played a major part in the imagery of the second phase of Pre-Raphaelitism, within the circle of Rossetti, Burne-Jones and Morris.

The murals painted in the hall (now the library) of the Oxford Union in the summer of 1857 had an Arthurian narrative, and it is possible that this subject may have been considered by Rossetti for that purpose. Instead, he converted it into this elaborate pen and ink drawing.

Lancelot saves Queen

The drawing illustrates the passage in Thomas Malory's 'Morte d'Arthur' headed:  

"How Sir Launcelot was espied in the Queen's Chamber, and how Sir Agrivaine and Sir Mordred came withtwelve knights to slay him".  

In one of the most dramatic and fateful episodes in the story of Camelot, Launcelot visits Guenevere while her husband King Arthur is away hunting. Discovered and challenged by the other knights, he fights and defeats them, despite having no armour. Accused of treason, Guenevere is condemned to be burned at the stake, but is dramatically rescued by Launcelot; the ensuing conflict between Arthur and Launcelot leads to the dissolution of the Round Table.