Dante Gabriel Rossetti English artist and poet Date of Birth: 12.05.1828 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Dante Gabriel Rossetti
2. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
3. Influence of Medievalism
4. Personal Life and Later Works
5. Artistic and Literary Style
6. Legacy

Biography of Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Dante Gabriel Rossetti was an English artist and poet. He was born to Italian immigrant Gabriele Rossetti, who was a professor of Italian language at King's College, London University. Dante Gabriel received his education at the school affiliated with King's College and later attended various art academies in London.

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood

In 1848, along with D.E. Millais, H. Hunt, and others, Rossetti founded the "Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood" and a year later exhibited his first painting, "The Girlhood of Mary Virgin." His most famous poem, "The Blessed Damozel," was published in 1850 in the Pre-Raphaelite journal "The Germ."

Influence of Medievalism

Rossetti's interest in the Middle Ages and Italian literature of the time is reflected in many of his paintings and poetry. This also influenced the theme of his first book, "The Early Italian Poets" (1861), which included translations from Dante, his predecessors, and contemporaries.

Personal Life and Later Works

In 1860, Rossetti married Elizabeth Siddal, who passed away two years later. The manuscript of his numerous poems was placed in her coffin but was later retrieved and published as "Poems by D.G. Rossetti" (1870). Rossetti spent the rest of his life as a recluse. His last two books, "Poems" and "Ballads and Sonnets," were published in 1881.

Artistic and Literary Style

Although Rossetti earned a living through painting, he is best known as a poet. However, his poetry and art complement each other. His most famous paintings were inspired by literature, while his best poems are characterized by vivid imagery. Rossetti often developed the same theme in both his verses and paintings, and his sonnets frequently gave voice to his portraits and artworks.

Rossetti remained true to the Pre-Raphaelite style in both his poetry and paintings, incorporating medieval colors and symbolism, with each stroke carefully chosen. He rarely addressed the sharp issues of his time, such as social, political, or religious matters. The main theme of his poetry was love.

Legacy

Rossetti's cycle of 101 sonnets, "The House of Life," which predominantly explores themes of youth, love, transience, destiny, and death, remains one of his most characteristic works. He deliberately used archaic language, placed familiar words in unfamiliar contexts, and employed unusual rhymes to create new and unexpected effects.

In addition to his poetry, Rossetti excelled in the genre of literary ballads, using themes and artistic techniques of old ballads but imbuing them with a modern, more refined tone, as seen in his successful works "Sister Helen" and "The King's Tragedy."

As an artist, Rossetti sought to convey not only the visible world but also the fantastical images inspired by his imagination, often incorporating familiar literary figures. His artworks had a literary quality, and he often depicted the ancient past, particularly 15th-century Italy, diligently imitating the Italian artists of that period.

However, Rossetti's art ultimately belonged to a new era, and in his paintings, such as "The Annunciation" (1850), the depictions of saints were so modernized that he faced criticism from public opinion. His deep affection for his wife, who also served as his muse, influenced the portrayal of most female figures in his earlier paintings, characterized by long necks, flowing hair, and an ethereal beauty. Later in his career, he started to favor more sensual and voluptuous female forms.

Among his most successful works were his illustrations for the writings of A. Tennyson (1856-1857) and T. Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur."