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Death of a Wombat

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

1869 November 6

Physical Description

Medium: pen and ink

Dimensions: 7 x 4 1/2 in.

Date on Image: 6th November 1869

Note: Dated on the urn in the picture's background.

Production Description

Production Date: 1869 November 6

Model: Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Provenance

Current Location: British Museum

Catalog Number: 1939-5-13-1.(6.)

Purchase Price: gift

Archival History: Jane Morris; May Morris; Dr. Robert Steele

Sources of the Work

Literary Source: Moore, Lallah Rookh.

Note: Surtees states that John Gere pointed out that this doublework parodies four lines from the beginning of “The Fire-Worshippers” in Lallah Rookh:

I never nurs'd a dear gazelle
To glad me with its soft black eye,
But when it came to know me well
And love me, it was sure to die!

Scholarly Commentary

Introduction

The wombat came into DGR's care early in September (see DGR's letter to Jane Morris of 11 September 1869, in which he included a copy of his other wombat parody poem “Parted Love!”).

Bibliography

Fredeman, Correspondence, 69.152.
Surtees, A Catalogue Raisonné , vol. 1, 211 (no. 606).
Surtees, A Catalogue Raisonné , vol. 2, plate 440.

Included Text

I never reared a young Wombat
To glad me with his pin-hole eye,
But when he most was sweet & fat
And tail-less; he was sure to die!

Reproductions

Surtees, A Catalogue Raisonné , vol. 2, plate 440.

Electronic Archive Edition: 1

File Name: s606.rap.xml