In the distance the Ponte Vecchio signifies the city of Florence, the setting for Dante's story. In the background of the picture the shadowy figure of Dante looks across at Love, portrayed as an angel and holding in her palm the flickering flame of Beatrice's life. Stephens, the grey and green of her dress signify 'the colours of hope and sorrow as well as of love and life' (' Beata Beatrix by Dante Gabriel Rossetti', Portfolio, vol.22, 1891, p.46). She is posed in an attitude of ecstasy, with her hands before her and her lips parted, as if she is about to receive Communion. Rossetti intended to represent her, not at the moment of death, but transformed by a 'sudden spiritual transfiguration' (Rossetti, in a letter of 1873, quoted in Wilson, p.86). It has a hazy, transcendental quality, giving the sensation of a dream or vision, and is filled with symbolic references. The picture is a portrait of Elizabeth Siddall in the character of Beatrice. This was Rossetti's first English translation and appeared in 1864 as part of his own publication, The Early Italian Poets. Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) recounted the story of his unrequited love and subsequent mourning for Beatrice Portinari in the Vita Nuova. Rossetti draws a parallel in this picture between the Italian poet Dante's despair at the death of his beloved Beatrice and his own grief at the death of his wife Elizabeth Siddal, who died on 11 February 1862.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |