The Annunciation

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

1855

Physical Description

Medium: watercolour, pencil, gum arabic heightened with touches of bodycolour and with scratching out
Dimensions: 14 x 9 3/4 in.
Frame: The following text was inscribed on the original frame: “My beloved is mine and I am his; He feedeth among the lilies. Hail thou art highly favoured; blessed art thou among women.” The passage was taken from two biblical sources: the first from the Song of Songs2:16, the second from Luke1:28.
Date on Image: 1855
Note: Inscribed on the verso in Boyce's hand:

“Painted by Dante Gabriel Rossetti for G P Boyce – 1855.”

Inscribed on the old mount:

“My Beloved is mine and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

hail, thou that art highly favoured: blessed art thou among women.”

Inscribed by Boyce on a label on the backboard:

“The Annunciation of the Virgin,

by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

(W. Col’ drawing 14 1/8 x 9 3/4 in.)

the original drawing bought in 1855

of the painter by this present owner

George P. Boyce of

West House. 33 Glebe Place. Chelsea

...”

A further inscription reads:

“And now belonging to

Mrs George Boyce of

...

...July 1897.”

Production Description

Production Date: 1855
Exhibition History: B.F.A.C. 1883 (no.3); New Gallery 1897 (no.53); Rome, Royal Commission International Fine-Arts Exhibition, 1911; Tate 1923 (no.10); R.A., Dante Gabriel Rossetti: Painter and Poet, 1973 (no.106); Tate, Pre-Raphaelites, 1984 (no.212)
Model: Elizabeth Siddal
Note: Siddal sat for the figure of the Virgin..
Repainting: 1858
(perhaps) retouched

Provenance

Current Location: Agnew's, London
Archival History: G.P. Boyce 1855; Christie's sale July 1, 1897 (lot 155), £89. 5 s.; Mrs. Boyce; J.W. Marsden; Dr. R.J.B. Marsden and E.C. Marsden; Christie's sale July 11, 1972 (lot 67); Sawyer; Sir Paul Getty

Scholarly Commentary

Introduction

Commentary is not yet available for this image.

Bibliography

The Annunciation
Copyright: ©Agnew's, London
Electronic Archive Edition: 1
File Name: s69.rap.xml