DGR was fond of these kinds of humorous verse letters. This one gives an especially amusing glimpse into
the comraderie among the early Pre-Raphaelite circle. WMR's note on the poem identifies the slang references and the probable occasion: “The Prince, George
Tupper; the Baron, his brother Alexander; Spectro-cadaveral Rex,
John (or Jack) Tupper; the Maniac, Holman Hunt. These rather silly
nicknames were not Dante Rossetti's invention. The occasion for
the doggerel appears to have been that he had received an invitation to
join with Hunt, Stephens, and the three Tuppers, in a brief country-
tramp”. Tupper's nickname comes from his satiric medley “Smoke”, published in The Germ (May 1850).
Textual History: Composition
The verse letter was apparently written in April 1850 (see
Fredeman,
Correspondence, 50. 5
). The manuscript is now in the Brotherton Library.
Printing History
First published in 1900 from the Brotherton manuscript by WMR in
Pre-Raphaelite Diaries and Letters, 20-21
and first collected in 1911. WMR's text is substantively identical
to the manuscript and differs in accidentals hardly at all. For the differences see
Fredeman,
Correspondence, 50. 5
.
This collection contains 1 text or image, including:
1911
Scholarly Commentary
Introduction
DGR was fond of these kinds of humorous verse letters. This one gives an especially amusing glimpse into the comraderie among the early Pre-Raphaelite circle. WMR's note on the poem identifies the slang references and the probable occasion: “The Prince, George Tupper; the Baron, his brother Alexander; Spectro-cadaveral Rex, John (or Jack) Tupper; the Maniac, Holman Hunt. These rather silly nicknames were not Dante Rossetti's invention. The occasion for the doggerel appears to have been that he had received an invitation to join with Hunt, Stephens, and the three Tuppers, in a brief country- tramp”. Tupper's nickname comes from his satiric medley “Smoke”, published in The Germ (May 1850).
Textual History: Composition
The verse letter was apparently written in April 1850 (see Fredeman, Correspondence, 50. 5 ). The manuscript is now in the Brotherton Library.
Printing History
First published in 1900 from the Brotherton manuscript by WMR in Pre-Raphaelite Diaries and Letters, 20-21 and first collected in 1911. WMR's text is substantively identical to the manuscript and differs in accidentals hardly at all. For the differences see Fredeman, Correspondence, 50. 5 .