Mariana in the South Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 1856-1857
<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>The drawing was created for Edward Moxon's illustrated edition of Tennyson's <title level="bk"> <hi rend="i"> <xref doc="a.pr5550.1857.rad" link="dead">Poems</xref> </hi> (1857), glossing lines 25-36 of Tennyson's “Mariana in the South” . Although the poem's text has it that Mariana is kneeling at a shrine of the Blessed Virgin, DGR represents her kissing the feet of the crucified Christ. More interesting still, the mirrored image of Mariana's face noted in the poem is referenced symbolically rather than realistically in the drawing. The result is that the drawing itself becomes the mirror of the beauty Mariana is lamenting. DGR's management of this transference is very deft.

Textual History: Composition

Textual History: Revision

Production History

DGR executed the drawing in late November 1856 and was working on the engraver's proof in late December (see Fredeman, <hi rend="i">Correspondence</hi> 56. 52, 59). Linton was the engraver. As with Linton's other engraving for DGR's Moxon drawings, which he made for the <hi rend="i">Sir Galahad at the Ruined Chapel</hi> design, a proof of his engraving for this drawing also survives.

In 1862 DGR made a watercolour of this design which James Leathart was going to purchase. DGR was asking £50 for the picture. It was eventually bought by George Rae (see Fredeman, <hi rend="i">Correspondence</hi> 62. 56 ).

Reception

Iconographic

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Translation

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

George Layard, <hi rend="i">Tennyson and his Pre-Raphaelite Illustrators</hi> , 49-65. Jan Marsh, “Hoping you will not think me too fastidious: Pre-Raphaelite Artists and the Moxon Tennsyon”, <hi rend="i">JPRAS</hi> 2:1 1989 11-18 WMR, <hi rend="i">Family Letters</hi> , vol. 1, 190. Sharp, <hi rend="i">DGR: A Record and a Study</hi> , 107-112. Surtees, <hi rend="i">A Catalogue Raisonné</hi> , vol. 1, 49 (no. 86).

Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery drawing Dante Gabriele Rossetti con 107 Illustrazioni Elena Rossetti Angeli 1906 0 Dante Gabriel Rossetti, An Illustrated Memorial of His Art and Life H. C. Marillier 1899 0 The Heart of the Night Mariana in the Moated Grange DGR 1862 1862 watercolour 1 Mariana in the South DGR 1856-1857 pen and ink 2 Mariana in the South (sketch for the design) DGR 1856-7 pen and ink and pencil 1 Mariana in the South Linton? 1856-57 (circa) electrotype of woodcut 3 Mariana in the South [print] DGR 1855-1913 (circa) 1856-57 Charcoal and beige print mounted on beige board 1