Special Sub-Topic: D. G. Rossetti Authored by: clarey29 Sub-topic of: Art World Figures

What was the name of Rossetti's ill-fated wife?

Elizabeth Siddal. Jane Burden married Willam Morris, Christina Rossetti was the artist's sister, and Fanny Cornforth was one of Rossetti's mistresses. Elizabeth Siddal was a famous Pre-Raphaelite model who appears in Millais's "Ophelia". She died in 1862 of a overdose of Laudanum.

True or false? Rossetti changed the order of his first two names from Gabriel Dante, to Dante Gabriel because of his obsession with the poet Dante.

True. Rossetti developed an obsession with the poet Dante Allghieri, and many of his paintings were based on themes in Dante's poetry.

Which poet did Rossetti believe he was the reincarnation of?

William Blake. Strangly enough Rossetti was born exactly nine months after the death of the painter-poet William Blake. Like Blake, Rossetti wrote poetry as well as painting, and he also perchased some of Blake's original manuscripts.

One of Rossetti's family was a famous poet, who wrote the poem "Remember" which is often read at funerals. Who was it?

His sister Christina Rossetti. Christina Rossetti also wrote the words to the Christmas Carol "In the Bleak Mid-Winter", and is often seen as the most talented member of the Rossetti clan. His uncle Polidori was the poet Byron's doctor, and his brother William Michael was also a writer.

True or false? Rossetti was not a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

False. Along with his brother William Michael Rossetti, James Collinson, William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, Thomas Woolner and Frederic George, Rossetti formed the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in September 1848. Many of the more famous artists who painted in the Pre-Raphaelite style, such as Burne-Jones, and William Morris were not in the original brotherhood. The actual term "Pre-Raphaelite" means a return to the style of art up to the time of the great painter Raphael.

Rossetti had an affair with the wife of his best friend. Who was she?

Jane Morris, the wife of William Morris. For a while Rossetti lodged with the Morris' in their country home and William and Jane had an "open" marriage. Jane Morris can be seen in many of Rossetti's most powerful and beautiful paintings.

True or false? In one of Rossetti's earliest paintings "The Girlhood of Mary Virgin" his mother and sister were used as the models for Saint Anne and Mary.

True. His sister Christina can also be seen again as Mary in the painting "Ecce Ancilla Domini".

While working for Morris & Co, Rossetti designed many fine stained glass windows. In which of the following places can you not find any of Rossetti's work?

York Minster. The stained glass windows in York Minster are nearly all medievel and contain no windows designed by Morris & Co. Both Bradford Cathedral and St Martins on the Hill in Scarborough have fine examples of Rossetti's work and the V&A now have a revamped British Gallery which I would recommend to anyone with an interest in the Pre-Raphaelites.

What was Rossetti's nickname for his mistress Fanny Cornforth?

Elephant. Fanny Cornforth was a part time model and prostitute. She was very striking and because of her large build Rossetti nicknamed her Elephant. Dove was his nickname for his wife Elizabeth Siddal.

In what year did Rossetti die?

1882. Rossetti died on Easter Day 9th April 1882 at Birchington-on-Sea in Kent.