The Return of Tibullus to Delia (watercolour replica)

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

1867

Physical Description

Medium: watercolour
Dimensions: 19 1/8 x 23 1/8 in.
Signature: DGR
Date on Image: 1867
Other production information determined from the object: On the reverse, in DGR's handwriting: “The Return of Tibullus to Delia. Watercolour. D.G. Rossetti.”
Note: Monogrammed and dated at lower left.

Production Description

Production Date: 1867
Exhibition History: Edinburgh, 1877. B.F.A.C., 1883 (no. 92a); Royal Jubilee Exhibition, Manchester, 1887 (no. 1663)
Patron: F.W. Craven
Original Cost: About £235

Provenance

Current Location: L. S. Lowry, R. A.
Archival History: Sold at the Christie's Craven sale, May 18, 1895, lot 49, for £278; Fairfax Murray; sold at the Sotheby's sale of July 7, 1965 (lot 20) for £800; L. S. Lowry, R. A.

Scholarly Commentary

Introduction

Commentary is not yet available for this image.

Bibliography

Included Text

THE RETURN OF TIBULLUS TO DELIA
  • At tu casta, precor maneas; sanctique pudoris
  • Adsideat custos sedula semper anus.
  • Haec tibi fabellas referat, positaque lucerna,
  • Deducat plena stamina longa colo
  • Tunc veniam subito, nequisquam nuntiet ante
  • Sed videar cælo missus adesse tibi
  • Tunc mihi qualis eris, longos turbata capillos
  • Obvia nudato, Delia, curre pede.
  • Live chaste, dear love; and while I'm far away,
  • Be some old dame thy guardian night and day.
  • She'll sing thee songs, and when the lamp is lit,
  • Fly the full rock and draw long threads from it,
  • So, unannounced, shall I come suddenly,
  • As t'were a presence sent from heaven to thee.
  • Then as thou art, all long and loose thy hair,
  • Run to me, Delia, run with thy feet bare!
Tibul Eleg ii
Note: The title is inscribed on the upper portion of the frame, with the poem in two columns at the base.

Reproductions

  1. image

    Marillier, DGR: An Illustrated Memorial , 148.
  2. image

    Delaware Art Museum print, Bancroft Collection
  3. image

    Delaware Art Museum print, Bancroft Collection
Electronic Archive Edition: 1
File Name: s62.r-1.rap.xml