Windus, William (1823-1907) - Burd Helen 1856

Burd Helen is a painting illustrating a Scottish border ballad of the same name, sometimes called ‘Child Waters’. The story tells of how when Burd Helen falls pregnant by her heartless lover, she is forced to run by his side disguised as his male page, whilst he travels on horseback. 

This download consists of 1 image, in jpeg format, that is 600dpi and 5180 pixels wide by 6540 pixels tall.

The picture is out of copyright and in the public domain, so you are free to use it in whatever way you'd like, including commercial use.

William Lindsay Windus (1822-1907) was an English painter, part of a group of Liverpool painters who were influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite style.

He was born in Liverpool, England, was initially taught art by William Daniels (1813-1880), then went on to study at the Liverpool Academy. On a visit to London in 1850 he became converted to the Pre-Raphaelite style. He exhibited his new style of painting with the work Burd Helen at the Royal Academy, London in 1856. The picture caught the eye of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and John Ruskin which helped establish Windus as a respected artist.

Windus's 1844 painting The Black Boy is in the collection of National Museums Liverpool and is displayed at the International Slavery Museum.