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Desdemona's Death–Song (crayon design)

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

1875

Physical Description

Medium: crayon
Dimensions: 42 x 29 3/4 in.
Note: “Desdemona's/Death–Song” inscribed by artist at upper left

Production Description

Production Date: 1875
Exhibition History: Bradford Art Gallery, Exhibition of Fine Arts, 1904; R.A., 1973 (no. 346)

Provenance

Current Location: Private collection
Archival History: Fairfax Murray 1899; Sir Thomas Wardle; Wardle Sale, Leek, 1909; W.H. Rider; Mrs. W.H. Rider; J.T. Birch; By bequest to his son W.R. Birch; Sotheby's sale November 20, 1969 (lot 191), £1,350; Leger; Robert S. Walker; Getty estate; Christie's sale November 23, 2004; Agnew's Art Gallery

Scholarly Commentary

Introduction

Surtees asserts that this drawing and a crayon design may be one and the same ( Surtees 237).

Bibliography

  • Surtees, A Catalogue Raisonné , vol. 1, 150 (no. 254B).
  • Important British Art including Property from the London Residence of the late Sir Paul Getty, K.B.E. , Christie's London, Wednesday 24 November 2004, 22-27.
Description: Described in the Rossetti Sale Catalogue as: “Design for the picture (hardly begun on the canvas) of Desdemona singing the Willow–song, while Emilia combs her hair out. 1875.”
Electronic Archive Edition: 1
File Name: s254b.rap.xml