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Dante and Beatrice

Drawing
c.1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a preliminary drawing for an oil painting that became Holiday's most famous work. The oil is now in the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. Holiday began planning the picture in 1864, and it was finally exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery in London in 1883. It depicts an episode in the love affair between Dante, the early Renaissance poet, and Beatrice. Dante, waiting on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, sees his beloved walking on the banks of the River Arno with three companions, but she rejects his greeting. It differs considerably from the finished picture. One of the girls behind Beatrice was removed and the costume of the third girl simplified.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDante and Beatrice (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
brown and black inks, pencil and black chalk
Brief description
Henry George Alexander Holiday. Study for Dante and Beatrice, c.1880
Physical description
Study for the painting of Dante and Beatrice
Dimensions
  • Image height: 228mm
  • Image width: 265mm
  • Sheet height: 269mm
  • Sheet width: 343mm
Style
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Given by Miss Winifred Holiday
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
This is a preliminary drawing for an oil painting that became Holiday's most famous work. The oil is now in the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. Holiday began planning the picture in 1864, and it was finally exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery in London in 1883. It depicts an episode in the love affair between Dante, the early Renaissance poet, and Beatrice. Dante, waiting on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, sees his beloved walking on the banks of the River Arno with three companions, but she rejects his greeting. It differs considerably from the finished picture. One of the girls behind Beatrice was removed and the costume of the third girl simplified.
Bibliographic references
  • Fagence Cooper, Suzanne, Pre Raphaelite Art in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, V&A Publications, 2003. 176p., ill. ISBN I 85177 393 2
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1927, London: Board of Education, 1928.
Collection
Accession number
E.1376-1927

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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