He seems to be quite a charming young fellow, don’t you think Lord Archibald?

I really love his sensual paintings and lush surroundings. When you see more than three of his images you immediately spot his style and addiction to a certain type of woman.

But once you know that his wife Elizabeth Siddal in 1862 - who killed herself after the birth of their dead child - it all becomes all so understandable.

Heartbroken Rossetti drowned his sorrows with booze and drugs. His life was not a happy one. Apart from being a gifted painter he also wrote poetry and published works on Italian authors.

Elizabeth was also the model for many other artists of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood - so you might know her from other paintings as well.

He died sad, broken and mentally unstable 1882.

More? Rossetti @ ArtRenewal.org or @ Wikipedia and a List of his paintings. And an excellent online exhibition by the Walker Art Gallery.

Most art postings are about the painting / art itself and the artists. Rarely do we get a glimpse at the process, inspiration, model or muse behind it. Jane was a muse for many British painters of the Pre-Raphaelite movement.

Jane Morris was one of Rossetti’s favorite models after the death of his beloved wife. She was married to his great fellow painter William Morris.

Click image for a bigger apple and arrow …

The title derives from Latin literature and means ‘Venus, turner of hearts’. This is the Sonnet he wrote for this painting:

She hath the apple in her hand for thee,
Yet almost in her heart would hold it back;
She muses, with her eyes upon the track
Of that which in thy spirit they can see.
Haply, ‘Behold, he is at peace,’ saith she;
‘Alas! the apple for his lips, - the dart
That follows its brief sweetness to his heart,-
The wandering of his feet perpetually!’

A little space her glance is still and coy;
But if she give the fruit that works her spell,
Those eyes shall flame as for her Phrygian boy.
Then shall her bird’s strained throat the woe foretell,
And her far seas moan as a single shell,
And through her dark grove strike the light of Troy.

Poetry and image information taken from here.

More? Rossetti @ ArtRenewal.org or @ Wikipedia

Hey Stumblers … don’t forget to check out the other Rossetti paintings below.

Click image for more red hair …

Lilith is the first woman Adam met in paradise - not Eve. She was an tempting topic for many painters. And this motive is pre-christian and appears in the Gilgamesh epos.

More? Rossetti @ ArtRenewal.org or @ Wikipedia

Click image for more Rossetti music …

The model is Alexa Wilding and the paintings shares some creative DNA with another of his great images "Venus Verticordia".

More? Rossetti @ ArtRenewal.org or @ Wikipedia

Click image for more blue amazement.

Once again the classic Rossetti Lady (the famous Jane Burden aka Jane Morris) in perfect pose. Unusal are the blue and green tones - he usually prefers red hair and warm earth tones. This is his last painting before he died in the same year.

More? Rossetti @ ArtRenewal.org or @ Wikipedia

Women are dangerous - we all know that. But Mr Rossetti’s ladies are the most beautiful of them all. Although his type seems to be redheads. Oh well, more fire for him!