Illustration for Christina Rossetti's “The Ruined Cross”

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

General Description

Date: 1847

Bibliography

◦ WMR, DGR. Family Letters 99 .

Scholarly Commentary

Introduction

This is one of five drawings that DGR made for her volume of juvenile poems privately printed by Gaetano Polidori in 1847 as Verses . The picture illustrates a poem written by Christina in April 1847. See also DGR's letter to Christina of 4 August 1852 where he records the odd fact that her poem's sentiment was anticipated by a drawing by Margaret Howitt: “[Mrs. Howitt] was much delighted with your printed performances, and wishes greatly to know you. Her daughter [Margaret] likewise yearns in your direction. She has by her, singularly enough, a drawing which she calls ‘End of the Pilgrimage,’ made by her some years back, which furnishes an exact illustration of your ‘Ruined Cross.’” (see Fredeman, Correspondence, 52. 8 ).

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