The Failure of Sir Gawain’ is one 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 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.
The full size cartoons for the series are held in the William Morris Gallery (BLPhA527a-e, BLPh528a-b, BLPh529, BLPh530a-c, BLPh531)
A set of the series of tapestries is now in the collection of Birmingham City Art Gallery (M60’80).
