Fair Rosamund

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

General Description

Date: 1861
Model: Fanny Cornforth

Bibliography

◦ Marillier, DGR: An Illustrated Memorial, 50, 108

◦ WMR, DGR Designer and Writer, 40

◦ Sharp, DGR: A Record and A Study, 172-173.

◦ Surtees, A Catalogue Raisonné, vol. 1, 81 (no. 128).

◦ Treuherz, Prettejohn, and Becker, DGR, 185 (no. 96).

Scholarly Commentary

Introduction

The painting depicts Rosamund the Fair (1140-1176), Henry II's mistress, staring over her balcony in expectation of the arrival of the king. The red silk cord she holds hanging from the balcony guides her lover to her room.

Production History

DGR worked at the picture in mid-1861, borrowing Georgiana Burne-Jones's coral necklace at least twice during June and July. He told Alexander Gilchrist on 11 July that the picture was finished (see Fredeman, Correspondence, 61. 48, 50 ).

Electronic Archive Edition: 1
Source File: s128.raw.xml