Artwork
The Day Dream
The Day Dream is an oil painting by the Aestheticist artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Day Dream is an oil-on-canvas painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, a founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, created in 1880. Measuring 158.7 cm high by 92.7 cm wide, it features Jane Morris seated in a natural setting.
Subject & Meaning
Jane Morris is depicted in contemplation, surrounded by lush foliage, holding a book and touching a leafy branch. A pink flower on the book and her attire (long green dress, white cuff) contribute to the serene atmosphere, suggesting introspection and possibly alluding to Rossetti's personal relationship with the subject through symbolic elements like the honeysuckle.
Technique & Style
Rossetti employs characteristic Pre-Raphaelite techniques: vivid, detailed naturalism and symbolic use of color (e.g., the green dress blending with the surroundings, the contrasting pink flower). The composition invites intimacy, with Morris's lost-in-thought expression drawing the viewer into her tranquil world.
History & Provenance
Initially titled Monna Primavera, The Day Dream was bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1900 by Constantine Alexander Ionides.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gabriel Charles Dante Rossetti (12 May 1828 – 9 April 1882), generally known as Dante Gabriel Rossetti ( rə-ZET-ee; Italian: ), was an English poet, illustrator, painter and translator.
