The manuscript of this prose ekphrasis of DGR's painting resides in the Duke
University Library. It was first published by WMB—presumably from
this manuscript— in
The picture represents
Proserpina as Empress
of Hades. After
she
was conveyed by
Pluto to his realm and
became his bride,
her
mother Ceres impor-
-tuned Jupiter for her
return to earth,
and
he was prevailed on to
consent to this, pro-
-vided only she
had
not partaken of any
of the fruits of Hades.
It was found
however
that she had eaten
one grain of a pome-
-granate, and
this
enchained her to her
new empire & destiny.
She is represented in The incense-burner stands
a gloomy corridor of
her palace, with
the
fatal fruit in her hand.
beside her as
the attribute of a goddess.
As she passes, a light
on the wall behind her
from some inlet
suddenly
opened, admitting for
a moment the light
of the upper
world;
and she glances fur-
-tively towards it,
immersed in thought.
The ivy-branch behind
(a decorative appendage
to the sonnet
inscribed
on the label,) may be
taken as a symbol
of clinging memory.
Dante Rossetti—Proserpina
[This detailed description of his
picture
was written by the painter—I suppose, towards
the
time when he sent the wor off to Mr. Ley-
land.]