A Christmas carol

Rossetti, Dante Gabriel (1828-1882)


Item type:
drawing
Date of creation:
1857-1858
Height:
34.3 cm  (13 1/2 in.)
Width:
29.7 cm  (11 11/16 in.)
frame: 50.6 x 45.7 x 6.3 cm
Technique / Medium:
watercolor and gouache on cream wove paper mounted on another sheet of paper, mounted on linen and stretched on a stretcher
School:
Pre-Raphaelite

Description

In Pre-Raphaelite style, this elaborate work presents three female figures, two standing while attending one seated, dressed in red, with her hands on a small keyboard instrument (perhaps a uniquely designed or somewhat imaginary portable reed organ) with a piano-like keyboard and small case carved and painted with annunciation and nativity scenes. One attendant combs the long hair of the central figure, and the other reaches for a bottle on the shelf behind her. The shelf also holds a crown, suggesting that the central figure may represent Saint Cecelia.

People as subjects

St. Cecilia (Musician)

Iconclass

11HH(CECILIA)111
St. Cecilia making music and/or singing
73AA523
the Annunciation: Mary kneeling - AA - Mary to the left, the angel to the right
73B13
Mary, Joseph and the new-born Christ (Nativity)
48C733
keyboard instruments

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Reed organ [5767]

RIdIM images


Image URLs

image link 1

Notes

Frame by M. Grieve Co.
Inscriptions and Marks from museum web site:
Signed: gouache, u.l.: DGR [monogram] Xmas / 1857-8
inscription: back of frame, incised: M. GRIEVE CO. / HAND CARVED / NEW YORK & LONDON

RIdIM record id

5759