Proserpine by Rossetti - copy by H.T. Dunn (1883, Christie's), Henry Treffry Dunn, 1883

Henry treffry dunn (1838-1899), after dante gabriel rossetti (1828-1882) proserpine price realised gbp 266,500 inscribed and dated 'proserpine after d. G. Rossetti 1883' (lower left, in a cartouche) and further inscribed with rossetti's sonnet of proserpine (upper right, in a cartouche) coloured chalks on paper 46 ¼ x 21 ¼ in. (117. 5 x 54 cm. ) in the original foord & dickinson frame, designed by rossetti the letter dated 2 december 1887 and attached to the verso of this drawing states that it was done by dunn for rossetti 'during his last illness/ and would have been touched/ upon by him had he lived. After his death it came into my/ hands & i then finished it/ up to its present state that/ it now posesses. / i am yours truly/ h. Treffry dunn'. Thus this work not only provides an invaluable insight into why the picture was created, but also demonstrates dunn’s importance to rossetti, particularly in his last years. Date: 1883.