Synopses & Reviews
This new volume in the successful British Artists Series focuses on the painter and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The artist was an exotic figure in the bohemian world of Victorian London, his life a sensational mix of romance, tragedy, rebellion, and genius. The son of an Italian political refugee, he studied painting with William Holman Hunt under whose tutelage he produced his first major work, The Girthood of Mary Virgin (1948-9). This was to be the first painting displayed with the initials of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, of which, along with Holman Hunt and Millais, he was a founding member. Lisa Tickner's witty and illuminating text explores three distinct phases in Rossetti's artistic production: the paintings produced during his short-lived affiliated with the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood; the watercolors of the 1850s; and the late oils, linking each to their geographical settings of Bloomsbury, Blackfriars, Chelsea, and Kelmscott. The inclusion of cartoons, letters, poetry, and photographs give a more rounded picture of this complex and original artist.
Synopsis
Dante Gabriel Rossetti (18281882) was an exotic figure on the stage of bohemian Victorian London, his life a sensational mix of romance, tragedy, rebellion, and genius. Lisa Tickner's text explores three distinct phases in Rossetti's career: the paintings produced during his affiliation with the Pre-Raphaelites, the watercolors of the 1850s, and the late oils. The inclusion of cartoons, letters, poetry, and photographs provides a well-rounded picture of this complex and original artist.
About the Author
Lisa Tickner is a professor of art history at Middlesex University, England.