The Sonnet Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 The Sonnet DGR 1880 April 27 Nicholas Rossetti Frances Polidori Rossetti; WMR; Harold Ford Rossetti pen and ink DG Rossetti Apr:27.1880 Both signature and date are inscribed at lower left: “DG Rossetti pro matre fecit Apr: 27. 1880.” “ANIMA” is inscribed at upper left. Marillier, <hi rend="i">DGR: An Illustrated Memorial</hi> , 198. WMR, <hi rend="i">Poems of DGR, with Illustrations</hi> . <artist/> <bibl/> <note/> </citnpictorial> <citnmythic> <name/> <culture/> <bibl/> <note/> </citnmythic> <citnhistorical> <event/> <place/> <date/> <bibl/> <note/> </citnhistorical> <citnautobiographical> <name/> <place/> <date/> <bibl/> <note/> </citnautobiographical> <citnscenic> <place/> <date/> <bibl/> <note/> </citnscenic> </listcitn> </source> <commentaries> <head>Commentary</head> <section type="intro"> <head>Introduction</head> <p>This is the original illuminated text drawing that DGR made for his mother's birthday. The drawing was laid into the front of a copy of David Main's <xref doc="a."> <title level="bk"> <hi rend="i">Treasury of English Sonnets</hi> (1881), which had laid into the back a birthday poem by CR. Brother and sister then presented the book to their mother.

Production History

DGR executed this illuminated work in March and April 1880. It was first published in 1882 as the frontispiece to William Sharp's <hi rend="i">DGR: A Record and a Study</hi> . Several interesting proof copies survive.

Reception

Iconograpic

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

Benedetti, <hi rend="i"> Dante Gabriel Rossetti</hi> , 338. Marillier, <hi rend="i">DGR: An Illustrated Memorial</hi> , 198, 200 . WMR, <hi rend="i">Poems of DGR, with Illustrations</hi> . Surtees, <hi rend="i">A Catalogue Raisonné</hi> , vol. 1, 153 (no. 258).

A Sonnet is a moment's monument,— Memorial from the soul's eternity To one dead deathless hour. Look that it be, Whether for lustral rite or dire portent, Of its own intricate fulness reverent: Carve it in ivory or in ebony, As Day or Night prevail; and let Time see It's flowering crest impearled and orient. A Sonnet is a coin: its face reveals The soul,—its converse, to what Power 'tis due:— Whether for tribute to the august appeals Of Life, or dower in Love's high retinue, It serve; or, 'mid the dark wharf's cavernous breath, In Charon's palm it pay the toll to Death. DG Rossetti pro Matre fecit Apr:27.1880