Our Burne-Jones sketch book belonged formerly to the artist's son, Sir Philip Burne-Jones. In a letter Sir Philip writes: “This book of studies and designs by my father is an important example of his work and methods. Before starting upon the actual painting of a large composition, it was my father's custom to make innumerable careful studies of limbs, draperies, etc., in chalk and pencil, and from these he worked upon the picture. The book which is now in your possession exemplifies this system.” The sketch book contains 113 original drawings. Some of these are on both sides of a leaf, and frequently two or more drawings on a page. For the greater part, they are executed in lead pencil, although several of the most interesting are in colored chalk. Sir Edward Burne-Jones was a member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, which sought to displace the conventionality of English art of the period by detailed naturalism and the mystical sincerity of the Italian primitives.

What can be done with lead pencil by a man who has sureness of hand and the power of rapid decision is shown in this fine characterization, in light and shade, of the ruins of a row of buildings that remain in desolation after fire has spent its fury.

Cameron's fine emotional quality would be inexpressible without his sure draughtsmanship and power to compose. Wedmore writes of Cameron: “He is certainly, of living British etchers, the one whose work excites among the generally cultivated public the keenest curiosity and evokes the highest admiration.”