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.
