Robert Montani's Rossetti Tribute

The newest gorgeous image I've found by random Flickr searches under keywords. This time it's photographer Robert Montani's homage to Rossetti in photographic form.

Rossetti is perhaps best known for using a comb in his picture of Lady Lilith

But that was not the only image in which he featured a woman brushing out her hair.

Florence + the Machine

Lisa first brought Florence + the Machine to my attention several months ago, but I'll admit that at first I wasn't sure what to think of her. In some ways, her style and music and videos were all very medieval-romantic, Pre-Raphaelite-esque. But in other ways, it was very very much not. But both she and her music grew on me immensely, and now I love her!

Tonight as we were exchanging Christmas gifts with my in-laws and family, I received her CD and was able to look through the album booklet. Much to my delight, I found a Pre-Raphaelite surprise hidden in one of her pictures...a Rossetti sketch of Lizzie at the far left of this picture. (not to mention that her pose and the held pomegranate are quite classical too)

If you want to try Pre-Raphaelite romance with a modern twist, try her music! These two videos will show what I mean better than anything.

Poor Splendid Wings

The library where I work recently joined a larger consortium of libraries, and increased our available titles by 73 library systems. My first search of the new system? You guessed it...key word, Pre-Raphaelite. I requested an intriguing title called Poor Splendid Wings: The Rossettis and Their Circle, and then searched the title online to try to find out more about it (Amazon had it available, but no information at all)

I was delighted to track down this scan of the book cover from its publication year, 1933. Please, please click on the above image to see larger. I assume the center drawing is meant to be Rossetti, and of course the upper right is Ruskin. The lower left must be Rossetti and Lizzie. I'm not sure who the upper left and lower right are meant to be. Please let me know if you have a guess!

I'll be sure to review the book once I've read it!

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

For Christmas, I have a strange request. I know I can't really afford to fly to Montreal for the Waterhouse exhibit, but please leave me any one of these enormous, gigantic Lady of Shalott posters seen throughout the city to advertise the event? I don't even mind if it covers the entire living room.

My favorite image:

Yes, please...I'll find room for this one:
Even in the subway:
Or in banner form:

Pre-Raphaelite Couture

I wanted to draw your attention to a new vendor with delightful taste in inspiration and website domain names. Pre-Raphaelite Couture is a Russian company featuring gowns (and photography of said gowns) inspired by the Brotherhood.

The website is in Russian, but feel free to poke around and look at the pretties!

My personal favorite gown is La Belle Dame Sans Merci.

Waterhouse Dolls

In one of my standard searches of Flickr keywords, I came across this artisan making handpainted dolls from Waterhouse's artworks. So cute!!

The Lady of Shalott:

The Magic Circle:

She notes on her comments that the two dolls aren't done yet, but they're looking great!

Someday...

...when I have a cozy cottage house of my own, I will have...

A window like this in the living room:


And a tile mural like this in the bathroom:

Ok, maybe not quite that big...

And a Spiderweb on the front door...