Prints and Principles

Most of the recent posts give details about individual prints and earlier posts discuss some of the subtle principles guiding artists in making images meaningful and memorable. For prints that are unsold, click "Items still available for sale" below. All other prints are no longer available. My contact email is oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com and my Instagram username is @printsandprinciples. I have created a separate blog to show my own work: https://printsandprinciplesjamesbrown.blogspot.com

Wednesday, 11 June 2025

Circle of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, “Beata Beatrix”, c.1891, after Rossetti

Unidentified printmaker from the circle of Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882)

“Beata Beatrix”—portrait of Elizabeth Siddal as Beatrice Portinari who was the great love of the Italian poet, Dante Alighieri (1265–1321), and inspired his love poem “La Commedia” (1321) about the soul's ascent from Inferno to Purgatory to Paradise (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG150584) after Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s painting, “Beata Beatrix” (c. 1864–70), in the Tate Britain (https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/rossetti-beata-beatrix-n01279). A rare proof state impression with a remarque of the head of Dante below the image at right and before lettering with publication details.

Engraving on heavy buff-coloured wove paper, proof state before lettering with remarque at lower right and wide margins backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 47.8 x 36 cm; (plate) 37.5 x 30.3 cm; (image borderline) 30.7 x 23.8 cm.

Condition: a strong and near faultless impression with generously wide margins. Beyond a small 7 mm closed tear in the upper margin and a few scattered minor marks, the sheet is in an excellent condition with no holes or significant stains and has been laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this exceptionally rare proof state impression before lettering with publication details and still retaining the printer’s remarque showing the head of the poet Dante in profile facing right, for AU$298 (approximately US$194.21, EUR 170.05 or GBP 144.03), including express mail shipping worldwide. Import duties, if any, are the responsibility of the buyer.

If you are interested in purchasing this astoundingly beautiful engraving portraying Elizabeth Siddal in a state of spiritual transcendence in the role of Beatrice Portinari about to die—note the haloed dove (Holy Spirt) carrying the opium flower (laudanum) with which Portinari will take her life, the sundial making the time of her passing and, in the distance, the Ponte Vecchio where Dante’s love poem involving Portinari is set—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold