The world of books and art, 1789 – 1914
The artist behind both these paintings - John Everett Millais - was a child art prodigy, and in his late teens co-founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. The PRB was founded at his family home in London - [then] 83 Gower Street, Bloomsbury, London. I worked nearby at 82 Gower Street for about 18 months, and many... Continue Reading →
Emily Dickinson - and the benefits of obscurity to a writer Today is the anniversary of the death of the great American poet, Emily Dickinson (10 Dec 1830 – 15 May 1886). Another author from my 'famous and appreciated … too late' series. All quotes in this post are from Emily's writing, unless mentioned otherwise.... Continue Reading →
A topic that I have been interested in for some time is the idea of the doppelgänger. And I’m not the only person to be intrigued by the notion of a mysterious double and what it might mean. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) was fascinated by the possibility of the doppelgänger, the seeing of which is... Continue Reading →
The peculiar life & times of Flaming June: "The most wonderful painting in existence". A world renown Pre-Raphaelite piece of art - that will take us from Clapham Common to Puerto Rico, but carefully avoiding Andrew Lloyd Webber's lefty granny.
The Day Dream (1880) - By Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882). Victoria & Albert Museum. Readers reading #9 Instead of 'Readers reading', perhaps this one ought to be titled 'Reader forgetting about reading' - we've all done it, one moment reading, the next drifting into a dream. Rossetti was an English poet, illustrator, painter and translator... Continue Reading →
Where is Anne Catherick?! Or to be more accurate where is this painting? In a Tumblr post on Wilkie Collins' sensational novel The Woman in White, I used the Pre-Raphaelite painting for illustration. The Somnambulist by John Everett Millais. It is thought by some that Millais was inspired by the book. It left me wanting... Continue Reading →
The Long Victorian 