Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
=========================
Full Name and Common Aliases
---------------------------------
Dante Gabriel Rossetti was born on May 12, 1828, in London, England. His full name is often given as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, although he is also known as D.G. Rossetti.
Birth and Death Dates
-------------------------
May 12, 1828 - April 9, 1882
Nationality and Profession(s)
---------------------------------
Rossetti was a British poet, illustrator, translator, and art critic of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. He is best known for his contributions to the literary and artistic movements of his time.
Early Life and Background
------------------------------
Dante Gabriel Rossetti was born into an Italian family in London, where his father had settled. His father, Gabriele Rossetti, was a scholar and poet from Naples who taught Italian language and literature at King's College London. The Rossettis were known for their love of art and literature, and Dante Gabriel grew up surrounded by the works of great masters such as Michelangelo and Raphael.
As a child, Rossetti demonstrated an exceptional talent for drawing and painting. He was educated at home and later attended King's College School in London. However, his true passion lay in art, and he began to develop his skills as a painter and poet while still in his teens.
Major Accomplishments
---------------------------
Rossetti was one of the founding members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB), a group of artists who sought to break away from traditional artistic conventions. Alongside William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, and others, Rossetti aimed to revive the spirit of early Italian art by creating works that were more vibrant, detailed, and emotionally charged.
As a poet, Rossetti's work was characterized by its sensuality, lyricism, and exploration of themes such as love, beauty, and mortality. His poetry collections, including _The Blessed Damozel_ (1847) and _Poems_ (1862), showcased his mastery of language and his ability to evoke the sublime.
Notable Works or Actions
------------------------------
Some of Rossetti's most famous works include:
"Beata Beatrix" (1870): A painting depicting Dante Alighieri's beloved Beatrice as a symbol of spiritual guidance.
"Lady Lilith" (1868-70): An illustration of the mythological figure Lilith, showcasing Rossetti's fascination with the supernatural and the feminine.
* "Proserpine" (1874): A painting inspired by John Keats' poem, depicting the goddess Proserpine in a state of melancholy.
Rossetti's personal life was also marked by turmoil. He suffered from depression, and his relationships were often tumultuous. In 1862, he married Elizabeth Siddal, a fellow artist and poet who died soon after their marriage due to an overdose of laudanum. This tragic event had a profound impact on Rossetti's work and well-being.
Impact and Legacy
-------------------------
Dante Gabriel Rossetti's contributions to the literary and artistic movements of his time cannot be overstated. As a poet, painter, and art critic, he helped shape the aesthetic sensibilities of Victorian England. His emphasis on beauty, emotion, and spirituality paved the way for later artists such as William Morris and Aubrey Beardsley.
Today, Rossetti's work continues to inspire artists, writers, and designers around the world. His poetry and paintings remain iconic representations of the Pre-Raphaelite style, while his legacy extends beyond art to the realm of ideas – he was a true pioneer in exploring themes that were considered unconventional for his time.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
---------------------------------------------
Dante Gabriel Rossetti's quotes and writings are widely remembered due to their poetic beauty, emotional resonance, and insight into the human experience. His work continues to captivate audiences with its exploration of love, loss, and the sublime. As a poet, painter, and thinker, he has left an indelible mark on our cultural heritage, making him one of the most celebrated figures in the history of art and literature.
Rossetti's quotes are often sought after for their timeless wisdom, evocative language, and ability to convey complex emotions. His poetry and paintings continue to inspire artists, writers, and designers who seek to capture the essence of beauty, truth, and human experience. As a true original, Rossetti's work remains an integral part of our shared cultural heritage – a testament to his enduring legacy as one of the greatest artistic minds of all time.
Quotes by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
I plucked a honeysuckle where The hedge on high is quick with thorn, And climbing for the prize, was torn, And fouled my feet in quag-water; And by the thorns and by the wind The blossom that I took was thinn’d, And yet I found it sweet and fair.
Love, which is quickly kindled in the gentle heart, seized this man for the fair form that was taken from me, the manner still hurts me. Love which absolves no beloved one from loving, seized me so strongly with his charm that, as thou seest, it does not leave me yet.
Sometimes thou seem’st not as thyself alone, But as the meaning of all things that are.
Gather a shell from the strewn beach And listen at its lips: they sigh The same desire and mystery, The echo of the whole sea’s speech.
I am not as these are, the poet saithIn youth’s pride, and the painter, among menAt bay, where never pencil comes nor pem.
Look in my face; my name is Might-have-been; I am also call’d No-more, Too-late, Farewell;.
You have been mine before – How long ago I may not know: But just when at that swallow’s soar, your neck turned so, Some veil did fall, – I knew it all of yore.
I have been here before, But when or how I cannot tell: I know the grass beyond the door, The sweet keen smell, The sighing sound, the lights around the shore. ... You have been mine before, How long ago I may not know: But just when at that swallow's soar Your neck turned so, Some veil did fall - I knew it all of yore. Has this been thus before? And shall not thus time's eddying flight Still with our lives our love restore In death's despite, And day and night yield one delight once more