July 17, 2005

The Pre-Raphaelites, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Frederick Sandys and Ford Madox Brown, among others. Their beginnings, and their varied faces.

Nottingham Castle is currently holding an exhibition from the Delaware Art Museum.

posted by Alnedra 19 years ago
  • There was a large exhibition of pre-Raphaelite works in the Barber Institute (Birmingham, UK) a few years ago. However, I must confess that I am not a fan of Rossetti. Frankly, I've always been of the opinion that he couldn't paint faces with any great competence (as seen in the "varied" link above).
  • Walker Art Gallery has loads too, if you're in Liverpool.
  • /Grabs drapey medieval clothing /combs long, flowing locks /assumes Janey Morris pose, vacant expression /fondles pomegranate suggestively
  • Last three posts all have Ralph in it. (well, almost)
  • Christina Rossetti, Dante Gabriel's sister, also pondered her brother's obsession with the face of his model (I forget if it was Fanny Cornforth or Jane Morris; I know he pained both). Christina even wrote a sonnet about her brother's obsession: In an Artist's Studio.
  • Painted, that is, although I'm sure is isn't comfortable sitting model for a painter.
  • I prepher Friedrich.
  • Nietzsche?
  • Bless you.
  • Wonderful links here, Almedra. Had to bookmark 'em since I still haven't finished Angel Peacock, a title I suspect both Rosettis would have relished. Always find Dante's lushly robed figures evocative of the poetry so popular with the Victorians. She is coming, my own, my sweet; Were it ever so airy a tread, My heart would hear her and beat, Were it earth in an earthy bed; My dust would hear her and beat, Had I lain for a century dead; Would start and tremble under her feet, And blossom in purple and red. --Tennyson, "Come into the garden, Maud" Can picture Dante cooing this to his inamorata, with the scents of linseed oil and turpentine hanging heavy in the dusk.
  • His romantic nature only slightly tainted by the fact he dug up his love to retrieve the poems he buried with her when writer's block had set in. Nice.
  • Aye, that's our lad. His moral/ethical sense frequently went marching to a different drumner. . Makes ye wonder, doesn't it, if her dust beat?
  • I dunno, kitfisto, I think that's kinda romantic. I'd be quite chuffed if my beloved had buried not just his poetry with me, but apparently his muse too!
  • Yeah, but digging you up 3 years later cos he was having a dry patch?
  • Personally, I'd put William Holman Hunt in the top three of the PRB (with Millais and Burne-Jones) I'm inclined to agree with the Monk so far as Rossetti is concerned.