Dante Gabriel Rossetti: Portraits of Women (Victoria and Albert Museum)

Dante Gabriel Rossetti: Portraits of Women (Victoria and Albert Museum) by Debra N. Mancoff delves into the life and work of Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882), a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Best known for his striking and seductive portraits of women, Rossetti's work is inspired by the art of the early Italian Renaissance.

This beautiful gift book explores Rossetti's powerful and unconventional portraits, characterised by their sumptuous, jewel-like colours. Examples have been drawn from Rossetti's wide range of work, including paintings, drawings, print illustrations, decorative designs, and staged photographs. Together, they chart the artist's energetic engagement with mythology, history, literature, biblical subjects, and modern life.

Rossetti intertwined art and life through his passionate experiences with his subjects. His models, such as Jane Morris, Elizabeth Siddal, and his sister Christina, were his inspiration. By rejecting conventional beauty, he redefined difference as desirable. Through his portrayal of women—where admiration often verged on fixation and praise on possession—Rossetti challenged the staid 19th-century public with a new and powerful image of women. The allure of this power continues to resonate today.

The book is beautifully illustrated with 126 colour illustrations, offering an intimate look at Rossetti's captivating work.