The Summons is the first of the series: ‘The Knights of the Round Table Summoned to the Quest by a Strange Damsel’ of six narrative panels relating to the story of the Holy Grail which was designed by Edward Burne-Jones in 1891-1894 , for a series of tapestries woven by Morris & Co. at Merton Abbey for Stanmore Hall, Middlesex. Photographic enlargements to the same size as the final tapestry were made from Burne-Jones final designs, and these enlarged cartoons were then worked over by the artist in ink, with some sepia and white heightening to bring out contrasts. BLPh527e appears to have been cut from the larger cartoon whilst the latter was still in the possession of Morris & Co.
The full size cartoons for the series are held in the William Morris Gallery (BLPhA527a-e, BLPh528a-b, BLPh529, BLPh530a-c, BLPh531). The series of tapestries is now in the collection of Birmingham City Art Gallery (M60’80).
