The Blue Silk Dress
Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882)
1868
Oil on canvas
1001 x 902 mm
The Society of Antiquaries, London: Kelmscott Manor
Rossetti’s relationship with Jane Morris is commemorated in many portraits, of which this is an interesting example. The picture includes Rossetti’s trademark focus on hair and hands, which he combines with the model’s wistful introspection. Its main attraction, however, is the colour – another version of the intense palette of Venetian painting of the Italian Renaissance.
Image acquisition and formatting by Simon Cooke. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]