Masterpiece of the Week: “The Blessed Damozel,” 1875-9, Dante Gabriel Rossetti

“She had three lilies in her hand, and the stars in her hair were seven.”

--Dante Gabriel Rossetti

The Blessed Damozel
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
1875-1879
The Lady Lever Art Gallery, Liverpool

One of the most famous artists of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Dante Gabriel Rossetti was as much of a poet as he was a painter. And, like so many people with creative tendencies, he took a bit of delight in tragedy and general depression. Most of his works deal with unhappy people in situations wherein they cannot be with the one they love—forever.

And, such is the case with this beautiful, yet somewhat sad, painting by Rossetti from 1875. He’s based the painting on a poem that he wrote about a beautiful young maiden who died prematurely and went to heaven. But, heaven wasn’t so great for her. You see, she pined for her earthly lover and leaned on the gold railing of heaven, all day, every day, to watch him and wait for him to die and join her.

Ever the clever chap, Rossetti has styled this painting like a Renaissance altarpiece, giving it a monumental and regal quality that only makes it seem that much more important, and that much sadder.