Thinking Historically: Maids & Muses
ConclusionThis activity is a topic-specific analysis of Rossetti’s work, focusing on the influence of women. The Pre-Raphaelite period was uniquely open to the talents and contributions of the women who surrounded the artists. Rossetti was particularly fond of including the women who inspired him, using them as models for some of his most iconic pieces. Some of the most famous muses that Rossetti and other Pre-Raphaelites used had profound affects on their work. The female portraitures done by Rossetti were created predominately after his Brotherhood days and are considered his hallmark as an artist. His romantic, ethereal interpretations of the women he painted remain as his most popular works. For this analysis, three muses and their portraits created by Rossetti will be the focus. Examine and reflect on the works below and what they say about women in art, taking into account their social and historical contexts.
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Elizabeth Siddal posed a tall figure and was known for her striking red hair. She sat for several artists, most notably for John Everett Millais for his piece Ophelia and she nearly died from pneumonia as a result. Upon meeting and marrying Rossetti, she stopped modeling for anyone other than her husband. She herself had painted a few pieces and even briefly attended the Sheffield School of Art. However, with little money and encouragement, modeling seemed the best way for her to enter into the art scene. She existed in a constant state of illness throughout her marriage to Rossetti, eventually dying from an overdose of laudanum in 1862. Rossetti was distraught over the death of his wife and historians have speculated his state of mind to have influenced his representations of women later in his career. The painting above is a portrait of Siddal from early in her marriage to Rossetti.
Fanny Cornforth is a decisive character in the context of the Pre-Raphaelites. She has been described as a carefree and controversial character, supported by the observation that she tended to model as villainous or seductive figures. However, she was discovered by Rossetti at a dinner celebration and he used her as a model alongside Siddal. Once Siddal had passed, Fanny moved in with Rossetti and became his mistress. As time went on, patrons commented that Fanny's face was no longer deemed ideal for Rossetti's paintings and so he moved on with another muse (Alexa Wilding) for his paintings. Though a contentious figure in the life of Rossetti, she remained with him while he struggled with mental illness after the death of Siddal. The watercolor painting above is an earlier version of Rossetti's Lady Lilith featuring Fanny, though in a later oil painting her face was changed to represent Alexa Wilding's.
Jane Morris was an embroiderer from a lower class family who was scouted as a model at a young age. Once she sat for Rossetti and artist William Morris, she was praised for her unique complexion. She eventually married William Morris and was the subject of his only finished oil painting, La Belle Iseult. After the death of Siddal, Rossetti turned to Morris for inspiration. Their relationship developed past friendship and by the 1870s had entered into a long term affair. However, as Rossetti's mental health decreased, even to the point of experiencing manic episodes, Morris distanced herself. They continued to remain friends, but the romance was over and she devoted much of her time to hosting artists at her residence in Oxfordshire. She has remained a significant figure known for her modeling, but also her contributions in design and embroidery. The painting above is Morris as Proserpine, a goddess from Greek mythology.
Big Ideas & Questions
What do you think of the role that women played in Pre-Raphaelite art? Do you think the Pre-Raphaelites are to be considered pioneers in women’s representation within art history?
In what ways did women contribute to the movement besides sitting for the painters? Did their contributions make a difference in your opinion? How?
How did the Pre-Raphaelite artists portray women differently than the way they have been portrayed historically? Consider the historical influences of the Pre-Raphaelites.
This page has paths:
- The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood: Founding Members Isabella Anderson