Jane Morris — Dante Gabriel Rossetti

ABOUT THIS WORK

In this intimate pen and brown ink drawing, Jane Morris appears lost in thought, her gaze directed downward, away from the viewer. Her iconic, flowing hair, a hallmark of Pre-Raphaelite beauty, cascades around her shoulders, emphasizing the delicate curve of her neck. The artist, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, captures her with a soft, almost wistful expression, highlighting the quiet intensity that made her his frequent muse. Jane Morris was not just a model; she was an accomplished embroiderer and a central figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, though her contributions were often overshadowed by her husband, William Morris, and her association with Rossetti. This drawing, made in 1873, reflects the deep emotional connection between artist and sitter, a relationship that profoundly influenced Rossetti's later works and lasted until his death.

DETAILS

Artist: Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Date: 1873
Medium: Pen and brown ink
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dimensions: Sheet: 9 1/16 × 6 3/4 in. (23 × 17.2 cm)
Collection: Drawings and Prints
Credit line: Gift of Jacqueline Loewe Fowler, 2020

ART MOVEMENTS

Aestheticism Arts and Crafts movement Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Symbolism

LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

Five details hide in plain sight. Pick one and we’ll show you exactly where to look.

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01

Downcast face

Look at the lowered eyes and heavy lids, with her face tipped down against her hands. The face is the most worked part of the sheet, and it sets a weary, inward mood.

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02

Fine hatching on the face

Study the tiny parallel pen lines that shade her cheek and jaw. Rossetti builds soft form from hundreds of strokes, with no smudging or wash.

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03

Folded arms and hands

Follow the arms folded across her body, ending in hands that prop up her head. The tight shape closes her in and makes her feel withdrawn.

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04

Loose, sweeping skirt

Down in the lower left, the drapery turns into fast, long strokes that trail off the page. After the careful face, the freedom of the line is striking.

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05

Monogram and date

In the lower right corner, a circled monogram sits above the date 1873. It records when the drawing was made.

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AUDIO DEEP DIVE

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THE ARTIST

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

1828–1882 · United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, blended poetry and painting to create evocative, symbolic works like "Beata Beatrix."

Read Rossetti’s full story