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Dante Gabriel Rossetti Collection

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
C0185
Repository:
Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division
Extent:
  • 2 boxes
  • 1 linear foot
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Dante Gabriel Rossetti Collection, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Date:
1828-1881 (inclusive)
Creator:
Princeton University. Library. Special Collections, Morris, Jane, 1839-1914, and Rossetti, Dante Gabriel, 1828-1882.
Form:
Letters -- 19th century., Poems -- 19th century., Drawings -- 19th century, and Albumen prints.
Abstract:
Consists of an open collection for material by and about the English poet and artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882).

Rossetti, Dante Gabriel, 1828-1882.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, poet and artist, was born on May 12, 1828 in London, England. He studied at King's College and the Royal Academy, where he met fellow painters Sir John Everett Millais and Holman Hunt. The three men formed the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Rossetti developed his skill both as painter and poet. He created one of his best known paintings, Ecce Ancilla Domini, in 1850. Rossetti produced his two best known poems, "The Portrait" and "The Blessed Damozel" in 1842, and later published The Early Italian Poets, a collection of translations of Dante and other Italian writers. Later in life Rossetti struggled with depression, although he continued to be creatively productive. He married Elizabeth Eleanor Siddal in 1860, and for two years she inspired many of his paintings. She passed away in 1862, leaving Rossetti deeply depressed. Rossetti himself passed away on April 10, 1882.

The collection contains over forty letters by Rossetti, dated from 1857 to 1881, as well as manuscripts of verse and a pen-and-ink self-portrait. Letters are addressed to Ford Madox Brown, Robert Browning, Edward Burne-Jones, William Rossetti, and others. Among the manuscripts are the sonnets "If to grow old in heaven..." and "O bella mano..." (accompanied by the English version "O lovely hand..."). One letter from Walter Theodore Watts-Dunton is included in the collection. Also included are seven albumen prints (approx. 6" x 8") of Jane Morris, taken by J. B. Parsons in 1865, apparently from D. G. Rossetti's personal collection (via Everard Meynell).

This collection was formed as a result of a departmental practice of combining into one collection, manuscript material of various accessions relating to a particular author, and is arranged in the following open-ended series:

The collection was formed as a result of a departmental practice of combining into one collection manuscript material of various accessions relating to a particular author.

Collection items purchased in 1997, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2013.

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

This collection was processed in 2005. Finding aid written in 2005.

Biography written by Alyxandra Cullen, '09.

No appraisal information is available.

People
Subject
Occupation

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2005
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

Consists of correspondence with individuals such as Ford Madox Brown, William Rossetti, as well as various Victorian authors.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

Physical Description

1 box

Bennett, W.C. [William Cox?], dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS (Monday), with typed transcript

Physical Description

1 box

Brass, Mr., 1871-1874. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

7 ALsS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Brown, Ford Madox, 1873. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R., 1 ALS (Tuesday) by D.G.R., with notes on "catalogues"

Physical Description

1 box

Browning, Robert, 1865. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Burcham, R.P., dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS (Thursday) by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Burne-Jones, Edward Coley, Sir, dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R. Contains sonnet on verso for "Circe," begins "Why sink those black drops in that golden wine..."

Physical Description

1 box

Conway, Mrs., 1868. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Coronio, Mrs., 1880 October. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G R

Physical Description

1 box

Cowper, Mrs., 1871. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Dempster, Miss, 1875 January. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Deverell, [William Trapnell], 1866. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

2 ALsS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Field, Edwin, 1864. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Gilchrist,?, 1861-1872. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R. to "My dear Gilchrist", 1 ALS by D.G.R. to "Dear Mrs. Gilchrist"

Physical Description

1 box

Hatch, ?, dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS (Saturday)by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Heaton,?, 1865 September-1878. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R. to "My dear Heaton", 1 ALS by D.G.R. to "My dear Madam" [Heaton, Mary Margaret, Mrs.?]

Physical Description

1 box

Howell, ?, dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Hulton, Richard H., 1862. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Jones, Mrs. [Burne-Jones, Georgiana, Lady?], 1881. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Knight, [Joseph?], 1875. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Landells, E. [Ebenezer?], dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS (Tuesday)by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Miller, John, 1857. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Morse, Sydney, dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Rossetti, Frances Mary, 1861-1865. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

3 ALsS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Rossetti, Lucy M., dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Rossetti, William Michael, 1879. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

2 ALsS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Seddon, ?, 1861. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Shields, [Frederic?], dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Skelton, John, Sir (1831-1897), 1872. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Stephens, ? [possibly Frederic George Stephens], dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Stevenson, A.S., 1867. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Story, W. W. [William Wetmore?], 1864. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Sumner, Mrs., dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS (Tuesday) by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Taylor, Tom, dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Watts, George Frederic, 1866-1875. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

9 ALsS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Materials Viewable Online
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Watts-Dunton, Theodore, 1874. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS to D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Wuford, E., 1862. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 ALS by D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

Unidentified, dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

2 ALsS by D.G.R. to "My dear Sir"

Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

Consists of manuscripts for writings such as "The Blessed Damozel" and "O Lovely Hand (La Bella Mano)," as well as others.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by title.

Physical Description

1 box

"The Blessed Damozel", dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 AMsS, verse 7 of poem

Physical Description

1 box

"Box No.4", dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 AMs (inventory of draperies) partially in the hand of D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

"If to grow old in Heaven...", dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 AMs

Physical Description

1 box

"O Lovely Hand (La Bella Mano)", dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

2 AMss

Physical Description

1 box

"Of Love in Men and Devils (Ben avventurato è chi ama)", dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 AMs, transcription in Italian of Cecco Angiolieri's (circa 1260-1312) sonnet "Ben avventurato è chi ama," or, as by Rossetti, "Of Love in Men and Devils." 14 lines in the hand of D.G.R.

Physical Description

1 box

"Sweet Surrender" and "The Seed of David", undated. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

2 successive autograph drafts of his sonnet "Supreme Surrender" (1869), 2 separate pages; autograph manuscript of "The Seed of David" (undated), 6 lines in two stanzas: the printer's manuscript with the pencil instruction "Print this before Ballad of the Dead Lady page 65"

Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

Consists of self-portraits and illustrations.

Arrangement

Arranged by genre of material.

Physical Description

1 box

Self portrait, 1849. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 self portrait in pen and ink, signed and dated, framed

Physical Description

1 box

Illustrations, dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

2 illustrations for Christina Rossetti's "The Prince's Progress" (1 signed)

Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

Consists of miscellaneous materials related to the Rossetti family as well as some photographs of Jane Morris.

Arrangement

Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.

Physical Description

2 boxes

"And here's Punchinello...", 1828. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 AN by John Payne Collier re: his edition of Punch and Judy removed from Punch and Judy (London: E. H. Reid, 3rd edition, 1832)

Physical Description

1 box

"A Marriage of St. Katharine", dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 AMs in the hand of [Frederic George Stephens?], copy of the poem by Hans Memmeling removed from Stephens' copy of Poems by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (London: F. S. Ellis, 1870)

Physical Description

1 box

"A Virgin and Child", dates not examined. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

1 AMs in the hand of [Frederic George Stephens?], copy of the poem by Hans Memmeling removed from Stephens' copy of Poems by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (London: F. S. Ellis, 1870)

Physical Description

1 box

Rossetti, Gabriele (father), 1828 January 31. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

miscellaneous papers, including 1 ALS (1828)

Physical Description

1 box

Jane Morris Photographs, 1865. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

7 mounted albumen prints of Jane Morris taken by J. B. Parsons, image sizes approximately 6" x 8"

Physical Description

1 box

Print, Suggest