The Laboratory Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 1849
<artist/> <location/> <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>It is interesting that the first watercolour DGR completed should illustrate a poem by Robert Browning— <xref doc="a."> <title level="wrk">“The Laboratory (Ancient Regime)” , which is set in pre-revolutionary France. Generalizing the scene (she is not wearing the “mask” mentioned at the beginning of the poem), DGR nicely captures the vicious and cool passion of the unnamed woman who has sought out the old apothecary.

Textual History: Composition

Textual History: Revision

Production History

The exact date of the picture, which was owned by William Bell Scott, is not known.

Reception

Iconographic

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Although it is sometimes said that the subject of Browning's poem was Marguerite D’Aubray Brivilliers (1630- 76), who had poisoned her father and brothers and planned to poison her husband, this is clearly not the case. Whether Browning's monologue was partly inspired by his recollection of this scandalous afffair from the court of Louis XIV is another matter.

Translation

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

Surtees, <hi rend="i">A Catalogue Raisonné</hi> , vol. 1, 11 (no. 41).

Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery watercolour Dante Gabriele Rossetti con 107 Illustrazioni Elena Rossetti Angeli 1906 0 Dante Gabriel Rossetti F. G. Stephens 1894 0 Dante Gabriel Rossetti, An Illustrated Memorial of His Art and Life H. C. Marillier 1899 0 The Laboratory DGR 1849 watercolour over pen and ink 5 The Laboratory [print] DGR 1855-1913 (circa) Brown and cream print mounted on cream/beige board 1