It is beautifully done. I found actress Valerie Meachum’s recording of ‘Lord May I Come’ so moving, especially today on the 151st anniversary of her death. Listen to it via soundcloud.
I’ve created a new page, Georgiana Burne-Jones: Memories of Elizabeth Siddal. This contains all portions of The Memorials of Edward Burne-Jones that mention Elizabeth Siddal. I consider the these crucial to gaining perspective on Elizabeth Siddal. GBJ shares her impressions, describes Lizzie physically and gives us insight on Lizzie and DGR as a married couple. She also discusses the tragedy of their stillborn daughter and Lizzie’s death.
I’ve been updating LizzieSiddal.com this weekend. Most of it is behind-the-scenes, such as cleaning up old links, revising the Table of Contents page, and cleaning up navigation. This is an ongoing process.
I’ve also expanded the text on the Ophelia page in order to include passages relating to the painting from The Life and Letters of Sir John Everett Millais.
Today on the LizzieSiddal.com Facebook page, I shared this image. I was amazed at how many times it was reposted by other Facebook users. Thank you and keep it up! Feel free to post it on your social profiles, blogs, etc:
I have completed the PDF files from the Little Journeys collection. Files can be found on the Downloads page.
The Lady of Shalott film is one of the most beautiful projects I have ever seen. On an aesthetic level, it encompasses everything I love: diligence to history and craftsmanship, the poetry of Tennyson, and a lush, cinematic quality that allows you to briefly be cocooned into the medieval world of Elaine of Astolat. On a personal level, I consider the makers of the film to be wonderful friends who were quite kind to me last year after my husband endured a horrific accident.
The Lady of Shalott film has announced that when they reach 1500 ‘likes’ on their facebook page, they will release the film online for free. So, please, like them on facebook. Tweet and blog their link for your friends to see. Because if you haven’t seen it yet, you are going to love their Lady of Shalott!
The Lady of Shalott Film Facebook Page
WAG Screen, the makers of the film
The making of the costumes at Period Wardrobe by Pauline Loven
At PreraphaeliteSisterhood.com you can purchase a special T shirt that feature an image of Elizabeth Siddal seated at an easel, painted by Dante Gabriel Rossetti:
Shirts are $12 plus shipping. Available in black or blue.
Women’s Hour visits the Pre-Raphaelite exhibit at the Tate to discuss the female Pre-Raphaelite artists. I am pleased with the the attention paid to Elizabeth Siddal. In particular, her illustration of The Lady of Shalott is given a nice bit of attention. They also talk about Rosa Brett, Jane Burden Morris and May Morris. You can listen online (It doesn’t seem to be restricted to location, as BBC iPlayer is).
The Lady of Shalott by Elizabeth Siddal
My compliments to Elisabeth M.Lee. To write a novelization of the early days of the Brotherhood must be an arduous task. The Pre-Raphaelites are complicated, there is so much going on that there is a danger of the tale becoming muddied and all of the scintillating bits could overtake the narrative. This book is not only true to the facts surrounding the formation of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, but it focuses on their intentions and their artistic integrity (something the recent miniseries, Desperate Romantics, failed to do).
‘Young PRB’ is about the earliest phase of Pre-Raphaelitism, beginning with William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition of 1846 and ending with Hunt embarking on his trip to the Holy Land. Lee follows the founding members of the Brotherhood chronologically and -to her credit- emphasizes their artistic ambitions and goals.
I feel protective towards Elizabeth Siddal and how she is portrayed. So I am proud to report to you that I am quite pleased with how Elisabeth Lee has shared Lizzie’s part of the story. Written with respect and feeling, her account of Lizzie is one of a young Victorian girl who is intelligent and curious about the art world she has entered and develops her own ambitions. Well done.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
William Holman Hunt wants his own revolution. In the year 1848 Europe erupts in turmoil, but Hunt is an art student, with many dreams and limited funds, in a London where revolution is just not done – especially one against the art establishment.
Hunt, along with six friends and fellow students – including the prodigy John Everett Millais and the artist-poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti – proclaim themselves the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB). They plan to display their new art at the most prestigious exhibition in the country: The Royal Academy of Art.
They were expecting criticism, praise, or even ambivalence. What they were not expecting was the violent abuse hurled at them by the art elite, journalists, and even Charles Dickens. The stale and stodgy art world of mid-Victorian London will not tolerate these upstarts. The defiant PRB will not back down. Now it really is a revolution.
Can the young PRB survive the attacks against them? Can their friendship survive growing up?
Visit Elisabeth M. Lee’s website: youngprb.com
On Amazon.com: Young PRB: A Novel of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
I am giving LizzieSiddal.com a much needed overhaul. There is still much left to do, but thus far I have instituted a cleaner layout and am updating several pages. Soon I will be adding more information from The Memorials of Edward Burne-Jones, written by his wife Georgiana.
In the meantime, I hope you will enjoy the updated and improved gallery at A Drawer Full of Guggums!
