Study of jane morris as beatrice for the painting 'dante's dream' in the walker art gallery, liverpool; half-length female figure lying to right, with long hair, her hands crossed over her chest and eyes closed. Curator's comments (see source): although he is well-known as a founding member of the pre-raphaelite brotherhood, from the 1860s the artist was a pivotal figure in what became known as the aesthetic movement, at the centre of which was the celebration of beauty and of art for its own sake. Rossetti’s work largely focused upon evoking the beauty and the sensuousness of the female form. This drawing is a study for the oil painting ‘dante’s dream’, now in the walker art gallery, liverpool. The model is jane morris, wife of designer and writer william morris. She began modelling for rossetti as early as 1857, and throughout her marriage continued to provide inspiration as his muse and sometime lover. Morris is portrayed as beatrice portinari, the object of the italian poet dante’s unrequited love. Her languorous beauty is powerfully conveyed here through the elegant curve of her neck, the strong line of the jaw and an emphasis upon her dark features set against a mass of curling hair. Date: 1870. Dimensions: height: 60 cm (23.6 in); width: 51.1 cm (20.1 in). Medium: black and white chalk, paper. Collection: British Museum.
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