Fair Rosamund

Arthur Hughes

1854

Oil on cardboard

16 x 12 inches (40.3 x 30.5 cm).

Collection: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

Accession no. 3334-4

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The twelfth-century figure of Henry II’s mistress was a favourite subject for the Pre-Raphaelites. They adopted the legend that the King had built her a secret bower, and Queen Eleanor became jealous of her, finally murdering her. According to Susan Casteras, "One recurrent metaphor is of dropped blossoms, referring both to actual flowers and to the fallen Rosamund, whose name means 'rose of the world'” (64).

Downloaded from the gallery's website by kind permission. See links to details and related material below. — JB