DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61290#0096
72
DANTE ROSSETTI
sole example of Rossetti’s strength in prose, only
paralleled by a similar composition, entitled “ St.
Agnes of Intercession,” of a later date. “ Hand
and Soul ” is largely autobiographical in its narra-
tive, being the story of a young art student of
Arezzo, named Chiaro dell’ Erma, possessed by
new and high ideals of the painter’s mission, and
stimulated to the better application of his own
talents by the success of a younger comrade,—as
we may well believe Rossetti to have been stirred
and impelled by the progress of the more studious
and at the same time more fortunate Millais. The
speech of Chiaro in “ Hand and Soul ” may be
taken as a declaration of Rossetti’s artistic faith
and principles at that period.
The second number of “ The Germ,” though no
less interesting and significant in subject-matter,
did not increase the scant support accorded to the
venture by the public at large ; and since the ex-
pense of such an issue was too heavy to be borne
by the little band of young and struggling aspirants
responsible for its existence, the future of the ma-
gazine had to be seriously reconsidered by the
Brotherhood. Mr. Tupper, however, to whose
hands the printing had been entrusted, came to
the rescue, and gave “ The Germ ” a new lease of
life under the title of "Art and Poetry.” The
change did not serve to commend the somewhat
crude propaganda to the mind of the British
DANTE ROSSETTI
sole example of Rossetti’s strength in prose, only
paralleled by a similar composition, entitled “ St.
Agnes of Intercession,” of a later date. “ Hand
and Soul ” is largely autobiographical in its narra-
tive, being the story of a young art student of
Arezzo, named Chiaro dell’ Erma, possessed by
new and high ideals of the painter’s mission, and
stimulated to the better application of his own
talents by the success of a younger comrade,—as
we may well believe Rossetti to have been stirred
and impelled by the progress of the more studious
and at the same time more fortunate Millais. The
speech of Chiaro in “ Hand and Soul ” may be
taken as a declaration of Rossetti’s artistic faith
and principles at that period.
The second number of “ The Germ,” though no
less interesting and significant in subject-matter,
did not increase the scant support accorded to the
venture by the public at large ; and since the ex-
pense of such an issue was too heavy to be borne
by the little band of young and struggling aspirants
responsible for its existence, the future of the ma-
gazine had to be seriously reconsidered by the
Brotherhood. Mr. Tupper, however, to whose
hands the printing had been entrusted, came to
the rescue, and gave “ The Germ ” a new lease of
life under the title of "Art and Poetry.” The
change did not serve to commend the somewhat
crude propaganda to the mind of the British