The drawing is DGR's only known illustration for one of his favorite
works, Browning's
Sordello
.
The text is Book IV. 779-788, which describes the moment when Henry VI, King of Sicily (1165-1197),
signals his intention to establish a close alliance with the young Taurello, who left
his ancestral home in Ferrara and took refuge at the Sicilian court, where he flourished, married
Henry's niece Retrude, and eventually returned to Ferrara to take his position at the head
of the Ghibbeline faction. The alliance with Henry is marked by the gift of the “silk glove
of Constance”, Henry's wife, which in the drawing Constance is taking off.
Pictorial
Taurello is depicted with a bow and arrow because he was an avid hunter.
The weapons also subtlely allude to the fact that he was forced into his
flight to Sicily after he had been tricked into a hunting expedition.
Literary
See also DGR's sonnet on
Sordello
where the pivotal place of Browning's poem in the program of the PRB is clear. This drawing is
signed by DGR “To Frederick G. Stephens—from his P. R. bother
Dante G. Rossetti”.
This collection contains 1 text or image, including:
Tate pen and ink drawing
Scholarly Commentary
Introduction
The drawing is DGR's only known illustration for one of his favorite works, Browning's Sordello . The text is Book IV. 779-788, which describes the moment when Henry VI, King of Sicily (1165-1197), signals his intention to establish a close alliance with the young Taurello, who left his ancestral home in Ferrara and took refuge at the Sicilian court, where he flourished, married Henry's niece Retrude, and eventually returned to Ferrara to take his position at the head of the Ghibbeline faction. The alliance with Henry is marked by the gift of the “silk glove of Constance”, Henry's wife, which in the drawing Constance is taking off.
Pictorial
Taurello is depicted with a bow and arrow because he was an avid hunter. The weapons also subtlely allude to the fact that he was forced into his flight to Sicily after he had been tricked into a hunting expedition.
Literary
See also DGR's sonnet on Sordello where the pivotal place of Browning's poem in the program of the PRB is clear. This drawing is signed by DGR “To Frederick G. Stephens—from his P. R. bother Dante G. Rossetti”.