#pre-raphaelite brotherhood

hidden details in millais’ ophelia: 

• a robin perched on a branch in the upper right hand corner.
• a mist of cobweb above the sitter’s feet ominously remminiscent of a skull.
• dead reeds rotting in the water. the backdrop was in 1851 from june until november, in ewell, surrey.
• a garland of violets around the neck of ophelia, modelled by elizabeth siddal.

hidden details in millais’ ophelia: 

• a robin perched on a branch in the upper right hand corner.
• a mist of cobweb above the sitter’s feet ominously remminiscent of a skull.
• dead reeds rotting in the water. the backdrop was in 1851 from june until november, in ewell, surrey.
• a garland of violets around the neck of ophelia, modelled by elizabeth siddal.

the farmer’s daughter or girl tying up mistletoe by dante gabriel rossetti (1860). the model is unknown, but it is possible that the model is elizabeth siddal: the painting was finished during the first christmas of their married life. 

the farmer’s daughter or girl tying up mistletoe by dante gabriel rossetti (1860). the model is unknown, but it is possible that the model is elizabeth siddal: the painting was finished during the first christmas of their married life. 

two self portraits by dante gabriel rossetti: the first dated dated october 1861, the second 1870. he was born on 12 may 1828 and is best known as both a founding member of the pre-raphaelite movement and arguably it’s definitive artist. in later life he developed a lush, sensuous painting style, characterized by medieval revivalism, elegant hands, flowing hair, and heavy allegory. he was also a prolific poet, and the husband of pre-raphaelite artist and model elizabeth siddal.

two self portraits by dante gabriel rossetti: the first dated dated october 1861, the second 1870. he was born on 12 may 1828 and is best known as both a founding member of the pre-raphaelite movement and arguably it’s definitive artist. in later life he developed a lush, sensuous painting style, characterized by medieval revivalism, elegant hands, flowing hair, and heavy allegory. he was also a prolific poet, and the husband of pre-raphaelite artist and model elizabeth siddal.

social isolation mood

social isolation mood

dante gabriel rossetti’s figure study for the princess for ‘the long hours go and come and go’ in the prince’s progress

dante gabriel rossetti’s figure study for the princess for ‘the long hours go and come and go’ in the prince’s progress

fanny cornforth, pre-raphaelite model and dante gabriel rossetti’s housekeeper until his death, died on 24 february 1909. she is pictured here as the sitter for rossetti’s fair rosamund (1861) and photographed in 1863. cornforth is often the subject of scholarly bias, owing in part to her status as rossetti’s longtime mistress and in part to her figure, which was fuller and more lush than the traditional sylph-like femininity typically associated with pre-raphaelite women. moreover, cornforth was working class, working as a servant from at least 1851: william michael rossetti wrote that “she had no charm of breeding, education, or intellect”. however, cornforth appeared in many of rossetti’s most famous works, including bocca baciata, and was the first person to open a dedicated museum to rossetti’s work after his death.

fanny cornforth, pre-raphaelite model and dante gabriel rossetti’s housekeeper until his death, died on 24 february 1909. she is pictured here as the sitter for rossetti’s fair rosamund (1861) and photographed in 1863. cornforth is often the subject of scholarly bias, owing in part to her status as rossetti’s longtime mistress and in part to her figure, which was fuller and more lush than the traditional sylph-like femininity typically associated with pre-raphaelite women. moreover, cornforth was working class, working as a servant from at least 1851: william michael rossetti wrote that “she had no charm of breeding, education, or intellect”. however, cornforth appeared in many of rossetti’s most famous works, including bocca baciata, and was the first person to open a dedicated museum to rossetti’s work after his death.

Saint Cecilia (1895), by J.W. Waterhouse

The fascination that Waterhouse had with women in poetry, persisted in this painting of Saint Cecilia.  The scene is based on the following strophe:

“In a clear walled city on the sea, Near gilded organ pipes … slept Saint Cecily.”

It originates from Tennyson’s poem “The Palace of Art” (first published in 1832, revised in 1842).

The beautifully illustrated songbook on her lap, the scenery with many flowers and the two angels appearing in her sleep, create a very romantic and peaceful atmosphere.  This, together with the extensive use of bright colours, makes it very much a Pre-Raphaelite painting.  It was bought by Andrew Lloyd Webber in 2008.