Author Description

Poet and painter, founder and acknowledged leader of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) has beguiled and intrigued admirers for more than a century with his turbulent life and his romantic imagery. Rossetti, the English-born son of an Italian political refugee and brother of the poet Christina Rossetti, considered a career as a poet before seeking his fortune as an artist - and succeeding in both occupations. Unable to adapt to the discipline of formal art training, Rossetti ultimately developed a personal style that placed him at the forefront of the Victorian artistic world. Forty of Rossetti's finest works are reproduced here in large, full-color plates and accompanied by individual commentaries. An illustrated introductory text traces the details of Rossetti's fascinating life and career and sets his art in the context of his day.