DOI issue:
No. 283 (October 1916)
DOI article:Wood, T. Martin: The true Rossetti
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24575#0018
The True Rossetti
Nazareth and Marv Magdalene illustrated here, colours, than to draw upon information about the
at present on loan at Millbank, may be added to separate works that is accessible in every public
the permanent collection. These three works with library.
their exalted sentiment also represent the true For convenience I have referred to the acqui-
Rossetti. The design, The Passover in the Holy sitions from the Rae family as the " Rae " water-
Family, was commissioned by Ruskin. Two colours. They were originally executed for
designs for the William Morris,
subject were sub- who to obtain
mitted^ to ^^^^1^^ ^^ ^ ^
visit to the artist's JWS*,. ijffl^^''' which, with Fazio's
studio Ruskin ''' ifm^*' Mistress, also
carried away the Stc&JF'' MfeC. .' 1»V: ' \ came from the Rae
drawing in an un- Collection, belong
finished state, to Rossetti's early
refusing to listen Chelsea period,
to Rossetti's pro- --.^.V being executed
tests. He had Bfc v'%^ about 1866. It
seen too many de- Mw'-;';T-\'l • >'?m^$M& w^f^ was of work of
signs that he had $' " ' aE Hjj| this time that
commissioned ■ aBr'-..^ v 11 .V.//1 JH WtM Mr". Ruskin was think-
ruined in the end, M ing when he
in his opinion, by J/ claimed that
the artist. W$£X$i£EMfi-v^' A ■kSK Rossetti's name
Ruskm prized 9^saS^WJ^mE^t if J should be placed
The Passover more 11sSBmBBBw£^# - ?M nrst of men who
than any of his li^^iw'yyiEVf> Jpt ftp- M nac* raised and
friend's works. sl^mi^i«BH^^ changed the spirit
He delighted in St^-vP^^s modern art.
its naive realism, itwBBMJtw-' |^BP; '-J • m Soon after this
and strongly re- flM^MESlsM&b ''"' H 9? '■•'^^'SbMI^v* date Rossetti's
sented a reference 1 fln'^s&HBv ' k work ceased to
to it as a symbolic ii excite the admi-
work, replying " I ■|flnTm> ration of Ruskin,
call that Passover '*jT jl and authoritative
plain pros_\- fact." ?ffw^ opinion of to-day
It was the only • ^Wjffi'r''- ' ■ 'W^w'^i ' ■ ' has echoed the
work by Rossetti u#HBNs*r.<.- - v*-,> - •• - ■ - - judgment of Ros-
that remained in " mary of nazareth " water-colour by d. g. rossetti setti's friend,
his possession to (National Gallery of British Art : On Loan) Until these
the end of his life. recent acquisitions
His instinctive desire to share with others the Rossetti was unfortunately only represented in our
things that had meant most to himself had by then National collections by his later period. The pur-
brought about the dispersal of what was once an chases that thus complete the representation of one
important collection of Rossetti's early work. of the most original geniuses of the English School
The individual history of Rossetti's paintings were made possible by the patriotic attitude of the
and drawings is so complete in Marillier's life of Rae family, and the support given by the National
the painter that it has seemed more essential in Art-Collections Fund on this occasion adds still
this article to write of the tenor of his work gener- further to the debt which the country owes to the
ally, especially as felt in the little-known early water- administrators of the Fund.
1 2
Nazareth and Marv Magdalene illustrated here, colours, than to draw upon information about the
at present on loan at Millbank, may be added to separate works that is accessible in every public
the permanent collection. These three works with library.
their exalted sentiment also represent the true For convenience I have referred to the acqui-
Rossetti. The design, The Passover in the Holy sitions from the Rae family as the " Rae " water-
Family, was commissioned by Ruskin. Two colours. They were originally executed for
designs for the William Morris,
subject were sub- who to obtain
mitted^ to ^^^^1^^ ^^ ^ ^
visit to the artist's JWS*,. ijffl^^''' which, with Fazio's
studio Ruskin ''' ifm^*' Mistress, also
carried away the Stc&JF'' MfeC. .' 1»V: ' \ came from the Rae
drawing in an un- Collection, belong
finished state, to Rossetti's early
refusing to listen Chelsea period,
to Rossetti's pro- --.^.V being executed
tests. He had Bfc v'%^ about 1866. It
seen too many de- Mw'-;';T-\'l • >'?m^$M& w^f^ was of work of
signs that he had $' " ' aE Hjj| this time that
commissioned ■ aBr'-..^ v 11 .V.//1 JH WtM Mr". Ruskin was think-
ruined in the end, M ing when he
in his opinion, by J/ claimed that
the artist. W$£X$i£EMfi-v^' A ■kSK Rossetti's name
Ruskm prized 9^saS^WJ^mE^t if J should be placed
The Passover more 11sSBmBBBw£^# - ?M nrst of men who
than any of his li^^iw'yyiEVf> Jpt ftp- M nac* raised and
friend's works. sl^mi^i«BH^^ changed the spirit
He delighted in St^-vP^^s modern art.
its naive realism, itwBBMJtw-' |^BP; '-J • m Soon after this
and strongly re- flM^MESlsM&b ''"' H 9? '■•'^^'SbMI^v* date Rossetti's
sented a reference 1 fln'^s&HBv ' k work ceased to
to it as a symbolic ii excite the admi-
work, replying " I ■|flnTm> ration of Ruskin,
call that Passover '*jT jl and authoritative
plain pros_\- fact." ?ffw^ opinion of to-day
It was the only • ^Wjffi'r''- ' ■ 'W^w'^i ' ■ ' has echoed the
work by Rossetti u#HBNs*r.<.- - v*-,> - •• - ■ - - judgment of Ros-
that remained in " mary of nazareth " water-colour by d. g. rossetti setti's friend,
his possession to (National Gallery of British Art : On Loan) Until these
the end of his life. recent acquisitions
His instinctive desire to share with others the Rossetti was unfortunately only represented in our
things that had meant most to himself had by then National collections by his later period. The pur-
brought about the dispersal of what was once an chases that thus complete the representation of one
important collection of Rossetti's early work. of the most original geniuses of the English School
The individual history of Rossetti's paintings were made possible by the patriotic attitude of the
and drawings is so complete in Marillier's life of Rae family, and the support given by the National
the painter that it has seemed more essential in Art-Collections Fund on this occasion adds still
this article to write of the tenor of his work gener- further to the debt which the country owes to the
ally, especially as felt in the little-known early water- administrators of the Fund.
1 2