Playing-Cards

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

General Description

Date: 1840-1845

Bibliography

◦ Fredeman, A Rossetti Cabinet, 9-10 (plate 70 note).

◦ Marillier, DGR: An Illustrated Memorial, 214-215.

◦ Surtees, A Catalogue Raisonné, vol. 1, 1 (no. 4).

◦ WMR, Family Letters vol. 1, 98-99.

Scholarly Commentary

Introduction

DGR appears to have tried his hand at lithography a few time, including with this set of playing cards that he printed around 1845. Another instance is his lithograph Juliette, executed around the same time. The playing-card lithographs derive from a set of drawings in pen, ink, and watercolour that DGR made in 1840.

Literary

The fifty-two drawings are caricatures based on political and literary figures, including Shakespeare as the King of Hearts and the Prince Consort as the Knave of Diamonds.

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