The Return of Tibullus to Delia (watercolour replica) Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 The Return of Tibullus to Delia (watercolour replica) DGR 1867 Edinburgh, 1877. B.F.A.C., 1883 (no. 92a); Royal Jubilee Exhibition, Manchester, 1887 (no. 1663) F.W. Craven About £235 L. S. Lowry, R. A. Sold at the Christie's Craven sale, May 18, 1895, lot 49, for £278; Fairfax Murray; sold at the Sotheby's sale of July 7, 1965 (lot 20) for £800; L. S. Lowry, R. A. watercolour 19 1/8 x 23 1/8 in. DGR 1867 On the reverse, in DGR's handwriting: “The Return of Tibullus to Delia. Watercolour. D.G. Rossetti.” Monogrammed and dated at lower left. Marillier, <hi rend="i">DGR: An Illustrated Memorial</hi> , 148. Delaware Art Museum print, Bancroft Collection Delaware Art Museum print, Bancroft Collection <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>Commentary is not yet available for this image.</p> </section> <section type="prodhist"> <head>Production History</head> <p/> </section> <section type="recepthist"> <head>Reception</head> <p/> </section> <section type="icon"> <head>Iconograpic</head> <p/> </section> <section type="pictorial"> <head>Pictorial</head> <p/> </section> <section type="historical"> <head>Historical</head> <p/> </section> <section type="literary"> <head>Literary</head> <p/> </section> <section type="autobio"> <head>Autobiographical</head> <p/> </section> <section type="biblio"> <head>Bibliographic</head> <p> <bibl> <title level="bk"> <xref doc="a.chris27.10.1987.rad" link="dead"> <hi rend="i">English Drawings and Watercolours</hi> </xref> [Christie's London, 27 October 1987] Marillier, <hi rend="i">DGR: An Illustrated Memorial</hi> , 148. Surtees, <hi rend="i">A Catalogue Raisonné</hi> , vol. 1, 25 (no. 62R.I). Surtees, <hi rend="i">Diaries of George Price Boyce</hi> , 46.

<hi rend="c">THE RETURN OF TIBULLUS TO DELIA</hi> At tu casta, precor maneas; sanctique pudoris Adsideat custos sedula semper anus. Haec tibi fabellas referat, positaque lucerna, Deducat plena stamina longa colo Tunc veniam subito, nequisquam nuntiet ante Sed videar cælo missus adesse tibi Tunc mihi qualis eris, longos turbata capillos Obvia nudato, Delia, curre pede. Live chaste, dear love; and while I'm far away, Be some old dame thy guardian night and day. She'll sing thee songs, and when the lamp is lit, Fly the full rock and draw long threads from it, So, unannounced, shall I come suddenly, As t'were a presence sent from heaven to thee. Then as thou art, all long and loose thy hair, Run to me, Delia, run with thy feet bare!

Tibul Eleg ii

The title is inscribed on the upper portion of the frame, with the poem in two columns at the base.