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The Seed of David

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

1858-64

Physical Description

Medium: oil

Dimensions: central panel: 90 x 60 in.; wings: 73 x 24 1/2 in.

Production Description

Production Date: 1858-64

Exhibition History: 6 Whitehall, September 13, 1861 (possibly a single day showing); R.A., 1883 (no.296)

Patron: Llandaff Cathedral

Date Commissioned: early 1856

Original Cost: £400

Model: Ruth Herbert

Note: Ruth Herbert was the original model for the head of the Virgin.

Model: Jane Burden Morris

Note: DGR substituted Jane Burden Morris's head for Ruth Herbert's in 1861.

Model: Agnes Hughes

Note: Arthur Hughes's daughter Agnes was the model for the Christ Child.

Model: Edward Burne-Jones

Note: Edward Burne-Jones may be the model for the shepherd in the center panel.

Model: ?

Note: Surtees writes, “In the summer of 1860 Rossetti had ‘an Italian (of Parmigiano)’ sitting for him, though for which figure is not known” (Surtees, A Catalogue Raisonné , vol. 1, 58).

Model: William Morris

Note: The head of King David in the right wing is taken from William Morris.

Model: Timothy Hughes

Note: Fanny Cornforth claimed that her husband Timothy Hughes sat for the figure of David in the left wing.

Repainting: 1869

Provenance

Current Location: Llandaff Cathedral

Scholarly Commentary

Introduction

Commentary is not yet available for this image.

Bibliography

Ash, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, plate 9.
Masterpieces of DGR (Gowans and Gray) , 16-18.
Marillier, DGR: An Illustrated Memorial , 74, [74averso], 110.
Radford, Dante Gabriel Rossetti , xvii, 13-15.
WMR, DGR as Designer and Writer , 67.
Sharp, DGR: A Record and a Study , 170-71.
Surtees, A Catalogue Raisonné , vol. 1, 58-60 (no. 105).
Surtees, A Catalogue Raisonné , vol. 2, plate 139.

Reproductions

Surtees, A Catalogue Raisonné , vol. 2, plate 139.
Ash, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, plate 9.

(image unavailable)
Marillier, DGR: An Illustrated Memorial , 74-75.
Radford, Dante Gabriel Rossetti , 13.
Radford, Dante Gabriel Rossetti , 14.
Radford, Dante Gabriel Rossetti , 15.
Masterpieces of DGR (Gowans and Gray), 16.
Masterpieces of DGR (Gowans and Gray), 17.
Masterpieces of DGR (Gowans and Gray), 18.
Hollyer print, Delaware Art Museum.
Hollyer print, Delaware Art Museum.
Hollyer print, Delaware Art Museum.

Electronic Archive Edition: 1

File Name: s105.rap.xml