The Blessed Damozel
Drawing
1875 (made)
1875 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The 'Blessed Damozel' was originally a poem by Rossetti about the yearning of a loved one in heaven. It was written in 1848 and first published in 1850 in the Pre-Raphaelite magazine The Germ, although frequently revised thereafter. In 1871 Rossetti was commissioned to create a visual version of the poem. This is the second of two sketches for the painting, which is in a private collection. The model was Alexa Wilding. She is clad like an angel in white but her appearance is nonetheless corporeal and sensuous. It is an excellent example of Rossetti's skill in handling chalks.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Blessed Damozel (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Black and red chalk on pale green paper |
| Brief description | Study in red chalk for The Blessed Damozel, by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Great Britain, 1875. |
| Physical description | Study in red chalk for The Blessed Damozel, depicting a portrait of a woman, quarter-length at a table, holding a writing quill. The head and face are executed in detail but the body, table and quill are roughly sketched. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Bequeathed by R. J. Dyson |
| Object history | Note: This drawing is reproduced facing p. 190 in H. C. Marillier's Dante Gabriel Rossetti, London, 1899. It is the second of two studies, both in red chalk, which were made for the picture and was No. 96 in the sale of William Graham's pictures at Christie's, April 1886. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Literary reference | Rossetti, Dante Gabriel <font -u>The Blessed Damozel</font> |
| Summary | The 'Blessed Damozel' was originally a poem by Rossetti about the yearning of a loved one in heaven. It was written in 1848 and first published in 1850 in the Pre-Raphaelite magazine The Germ, although frequently revised thereafter. In 1871 Rossetti was commissioned to create a visual version of the poem. This is the second of two sketches for the painting, which is in a private collection. The model was Alexa Wilding. She is clad like an angel in white but her appearance is nonetheless corporeal and sensuous. It is an excellent example of Rossetti's skill in handling chalks. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.262-1946 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 8, 2004 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
