Beata Beatrix1871–72
Dante Gabriel Rossetti was a founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a circle of Victorian artists united in their regard for medieval aesthetics. More about this work
About this work
Dante Gabriel Rossetti was a founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a circle of Victorian artists united in their regard for medieval aesthetics. Inspired by his namesake, Dante, Rossetti drew parallels in this work between the Italian poet's love for Beatrice and his own affection for his deceased wife and muse, Elizabeth Siddal, a talented artist and writer who died at age 32.
Text from the Art Institute of Chicago.
What you’re looking at
Serene red-haired woman, framed with allegorical symbols of red bird, sundial.
Description from the Art Institute of Chicago.
How it was made
- Oil paint
- Pigment ground in a drying oil, usually linseed. It dries slowly, so painters could blend on the canvas, build up thin translucent glazes, and rework a picture over weeks. Canvas replaced wooden panels in the 1500s because it is lighter and can be rolled.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
English, 1828–1882 · Born in London; died in Birchington-on-Sea.
Rights and the museum’s record
Public domain. The Art Institute of Chicago has dedicated this image to the public domain under CC0, so anyone may copy, adapt and use it, for any purpose, without asking. Our prints and files are reproductions made from the museum’s image; the museum doesn’t endorse them.
- Object number
- 1925.722
- Credit
- Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Type
- Painting
- Department
- Painting and Sculpture of Europe
- Licence
- CC0 1.0 Universal
- Museum record
- See it on the museum’s site
