Walter Howell Deverell English Pre-Raphaelite artist Date of Birth: 01.10.1827 Country: Great Britain

1. Walter Deverell: A Pre-Raphaelite Master
2. Early Artistic Career
3. Immersion in Pre-Raphaelitism
4. Elizabeth Siddal and "Twelfth Night"
5. Teaching and Illness
6. Last Painting and Legacy

Walter Deverell: A Pre-Raphaelite Master

Walter Deverell, a British Pre-Raphaelite artist, was born in India in 1827. His English parents returned to England when Walter was only two years old.

Early Artistic Career

In 1846, Deverell abandoned his clerk's job to enroll at the Royal Academy Schools. His paintings made their debut at the Academy exhibitions between 1847 and 1853.

Immersion in Pre-Raphaelitism

Through Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Deverell became acquainted with other members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. He contributed to their publication, "The Germ." In 1850, Deverell was invited to replace James Collinson in the Brotherhood, but this never materialized. Nevertheless, his art remained closely associated with Pre-Raphaelitism.

Elizabeth Siddal and "Twelfth Night"

While working on his painting "Twelfth Night" (1849-1850), Deverell sought Elizabeth Siddal as a model. He shyly conveyed his request through his mother, fearing rejection.

Teaching and Illness

Deverell taught at the Government School of Design but was forced to resign due to ill health.

Last Painting and Legacy

Deverell's final work, "As You Like It" ("The Mock Marriage of Orlando and Rosalind") (1853), required his brother and sister to pose outdoors for extended periods in Surrey Forest. After Deverell's untimely death, friends supported his financially struggling family, and Rossetti completed the unfinished painting to secure its sale.