Dante Gabriel Rossetti

The Tune of the Seven Towers

1857

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

In Tate Britain
Exhibition

The Rossettis

A major exhibition devoted to the radical Rossetti generation

Now booking

Artist: Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1828–1882
Medium: Watercolour on paper
Dimensions: Support: 314 × 365 mm
frame: 552 × 570 × 35 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Purchased with assistance from Sir Arthur Du Cros Bt and Sir Otto Beit KCMG through the Art Fund 1916
Reference: N03059

Display caption

The subject of this image remains a mystery. It may have been inspired by medieval songs or tales, and its composition and colour reflect the intensity of illuminated manuscripts. As with other works by Rossetti, it may be partly autobiographical, as he was at the time considering marriage to Elizabeth Siddall, who posed for the seated figure in red. A servant (top left) places a branch of an orange-tree, a symbol of marriage, on the bed. However, instead of being joyous, the scene is extremely melancholy, perhaps an allusion to Siddall's illness at this time, which was thought to be fatal.

Gallery label, August 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Explore

architecture(30,960)
- military(6,806)
- - castle(5,612)
history(5,776)
- politics and society(2,337)
- - period: Middle Ages(45)
interiors(2,776)
- domestic(1,795)
- - bedroom(332)
leisure and pastimes(3,435)
- music and entertainment(2,331)
- - music(916)
objects(23,571)
- fine arts and music(3,982)
- - instrument, bell(6)
  - instrument, stringed(32)
- food and drink(980)
- - fruit, orange(28)
- furnishings(3,081)
- - bed(401)
  - chair(915)
- religious and ceremonial(1,733)
- - flag - non-specific(333)
people(22,072)
- actions: postures and motions(9,111)
- - sitting(3,347)
- adults(20,120)
- - man(10,453)
  - woman(9,110)
- groups(5,156)
- - group(4,227)
- named individuals(12,887)
- - Siddal, Elizabeth Eleanor(12)
society(15,153)
- sex and relationships(833)
- - couple(1,322)
symbols and personifications(7,150)
- gender(33)
- - female - lily(1)
  - female - moon(1)
  - male - rose(1)
  - male - sun(1)
- people(15)
- - Siddal, Elizabeth Eleanor - dove(1)
- society(51)
- - marriage - orange tree(2)
work and occupations(5,453)
- domestic(448)
- - maid(115)

You might like

Dante Gabriel Rossetti David

1858–64

View by appointment
Dante Gabriel Rossetti The Adoration

1858–64
Dante Gabriel Rossetti King David

1858–64

View by appointment
Dante Gabriel Rossetti Ecce Ancilla Domini! (The Annunciation)

1849–50

On display at Tate Britain part of The Rossettis
Dante Gabriel Rossetti Paolo and Francesca da Rimini

1855

On display at Tate Britain part of The Rossettis
Dante Gabriel Rossetti The Blue Closet

1857

On display at Tate Britain part of The Rossettis
Dante Gabriel Rossetti Lucrezia Borgia

1860–1

On display at Tate Britain part of The Rossettis
Dante Gabriel Rossetti The Passover in the Holy Family

1856
Dante Gabriel Rossetti Arthur’s Tomb

1860

On display at Tate Britain part of The Rossettis
Dante Gabriel Rossetti The Girlhood of Mary Virgin

1848–9

On display at Tate Britain part of The Rossettis
Dante Gabriel Rossetti Dante’s Vision of Rachel and Leah

1855
Dante Gabriel Rossetti Dante’s Dream at the Time of the Death of Beatrice

1856

On display at Tate Britain part of The Rossettis
Dante Gabriel Rossetti Mary in the House of St John

1859
Dante Gabriel Rossetti St George and Princess Sabra

1862
Dante Gabriel Rossetti How Sir Galahad, Sir Bors and Sir Percival Were Fed with the Sanct Grael; but Sir Percival’s Sister Died by the Way

1864

On display at Tate Britain part of The Rossettis

In the shop

Browse the shop