“Behind Those Screens” — Bringing Women Forth: Christina Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal

This article explores the connections between two Pre-Raphaelite women: Christina Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal. Although they are remembered quite differently, the former as a celebrated poet, the latter as the eternal model, both women share common sufferings and artistic themes. In bringing them...

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Main Author: Mariana Bicudo Castelo Branco Cunha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ubiquity Press 2020-01-01
Series:Anglo Saxonica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.revista-anglo-saxonica.org/articles/15
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author Mariana Bicudo Castelo Branco Cunha
author_facet Mariana Bicudo Castelo Branco Cunha
author_sort Mariana Bicudo Castelo Branco Cunha
collection DOAJ
description This article explores the connections between two Pre-Raphaelite women: Christina Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal. Although they are remembered quite differently, the former as a celebrated poet, the latter as the eternal model, both women share common sufferings and artistic themes. In bringing them forth, the article aims to shed light on how Victorian society may have impacted their life and work. The accuracy of various reports of frailty and poor health regarding the artists is inspected. The article ponder on why Siddal’s artistic output lingers in the shadows, while recognizing the influence of the class system and of gender roles on the lives of these women. This task is achieved through an analysis of selected works which display some of the artists’ central motifs. To conclude, the article assesses the societal restrictions which pervade the works of Rossetti and Siddal, how they attempt to bend or bypass them, and in which ways these shaped their well-being and artistic recognition.
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spelling doaj.art-ae1487e4506d4456ab672bf3bdde6fe62023-09-03T01:55:19ZengUbiquity PressAnglo Saxonica2184-60062020-01-0117110.5334/as.157“Behind Those Screens” — Bringing Women Forth: Christina Rossetti and Elizabeth SiddalMariana Bicudo Castelo Branco Cunha0University of Lisbon Centre for English StudiesThis article explores the connections between two Pre-Raphaelite women: Christina Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal. Although they are remembered quite differently, the former as a celebrated poet, the latter as the eternal model, both women share common sufferings and artistic themes. In bringing them forth, the article aims to shed light on how Victorian society may have impacted their life and work. The accuracy of various reports of frailty and poor health regarding the artists is inspected. The article ponder on why Siddal’s artistic output lingers in the shadows, while recognizing the influence of the class system and of gender roles on the lives of these women. This task is achieved through an analysis of selected works which display some of the artists’ central motifs. To conclude, the article assesses the societal restrictions which pervade the works of Rossetti and Siddal, how they attempt to bend or bypass them, and in which ways these shaped their well-being and artistic recognition.https://www.revista-anglo-saxonica.org/articles/15pre-raphaelite womenrossettisiddalvictorian society
spellingShingle Mariana Bicudo Castelo Branco Cunha
“Behind Those Screens” — Bringing Women Forth: Christina Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal
Anglo Saxonica
pre-raphaelite women
rossetti
siddal
victorian society
title “Behind Those Screens” — Bringing Women Forth: Christina Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal
title_full “Behind Those Screens” — Bringing Women Forth: Christina Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal
title_fullStr “Behind Those Screens” — Bringing Women Forth: Christina Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal
title_full_unstemmed “Behind Those Screens” — Bringing Women Forth: Christina Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal
title_short “Behind Those Screens” — Bringing Women Forth: Christina Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal
title_sort behind those screens bringing women forth christina rossetti and elizabeth siddal
topic pre-raphaelite women
rossetti
siddal
victorian society
url https://www.revista-anglo-saxonica.org/articles/15
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