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Rossetti lamenting the death of his wombat, 1869. Dante Gabriel Rossetti loved exotic animals and began to collect them with a passion after the tragic death of his wife Elizabeth Siddal in 1862. He had moved to 16 Cheyne Walk in Chelsea, a house with a large garden that soon became a miniature zoo. The wombats had a special place in Rossetti's heart. In a letter to his brother he described the arrival of the first one as 'a Joy, a Triumph, a Delight, a Madness'. This drawing commemorates the short-lived second wombat. Instead of being laid to rest in the tomb depicted in the background, the marsupial was stuffed and placed in Rossetti's entrance hall. PD, 1939-5-13-6
#33010965

Rossetti lamenting the death of his wombat, 1869. Dante Gabriel Rossetti loved e...

Paolo and Francesca da Rimini 1855 Throughout his life Rossetti was fascinated by stories of tragic lovers and illicit love. Here he illustrates the story of Francesca and her brother-in-law Paolo, from Inferno by the medieval poet Dante. They are condemned to Hell for adultery, although Dante has sympathy for their true love and the cruelty of their death. On the left, Francesca and Paolo embrace. In the centre, Dante and Virgil look with concern to the right, where the lovers, murdered by Francesca's husband, drift through hell in each other's arms. Quotations from the text are inscribed around the edge of the composition. Watercolour on paper; 254 x 449 mm N03056
#39170162

Paolo and Francesca da Rimini 1855 Throughout his life Rossetti was fascinate...

Beata Beatrix circa 1864-70 Rossetti’s inspiration for this painting was the Vita Nuova (New Life), the Italian poet Dante’s account of his idealised love for Beatrice, and of her premature death. The death of Beatrice is symbolised by a sudden spiritual transfiguration. A bird, a messenger of death, drops a white poppy between her open hands. The shadow of the sundial rests on the figure nine, the number Dante connects mystically with Beatrice and her death. In the background the shadowy figure of Dante gazes towards the figure of Love. Rossetti saw this work as a memorial to his wife, Elizabeth Siddall, who had died in 1862. Oil on canvas; 864 x 660 mm N01279
#39170163

Beata Beatrix circa 1864-70 Rossetti’s inspiration for this painting was the...

Dante's Dream at the Time of the Death of Beatrice 1856 Watercolour on paper; 487 x 662 mm N05229
#39170165

Dante's Dream at the Time of the Death of Beatrice 1856 Watercolour on pape...

Dante's Vision of Rachel and Leah, 1855. Watercolour on paper, 352 x 314mm. N05228
#39190525

Dante's Vision of Rachel and Leah, 1855. Watercolour on paper, 352 x 314mm. N0...

The Tune of the Seven Towers, 1857. After a poem by Robert Browning. Watercolour on paper, 314 x 365 mm. N03059
#39190526

The Tune of the Seven Towers, 1857. After a poem by Robert Browning. Watercolo...

St. Catherine, 1857. Oil on canvas, 343 x 241 mm. N04603
#39190527

St. Catherine, 1857. Oil on canvas, 343 x 241 mm. N04603

Proserpine, 1874. Oil on canvas, 1251 x 610 mm. N05064
#39190528

Proserpine, 1874. Oil on canvas, 1251 x 610 mm. N05064

The Annunciation - Ecce Ancilla Domini (1840-50)
#40060129

The Annunciation - Ecce Ancilla Domini (1840-50)

The beloved (1873)
#40060130

The beloved (1873)

La Ghirlandata. Canvas (1873)
#40060325

La Ghirlandata. Canvas (1873)

La Pia (Pia de Tolommei), 1868-1880 Pia de Tolomei is a figure from Dante's Inferno. accused wrongly of adultery. An opera by Donizetti had its premiere on February 18th 1837 in Venice. Canvas, 104,8 x 120,6 cm 56.31
#40060326

La Pia (Pia de Tolommei), 1868-1880 Pia de Tolomei is a figure from Dante's Inf...