Elizabeth Siddal - Obituary : Sheffield Telegraph 28th February, 1862

Following  Elizabeth Siddal's death on 11th February, 1862 from a laudanum overdose at the age of 32. Her cousin William Ibbett, a silversmith and artist,  wrote the following  obituary to the Editor of the Sheffield Telegraph. Siddal's family originated from Sheffield and she had many relatives there, and only a few years earlier ( 1857) had spent time in the area attending some classes at the Sheffield School of Art and staying later in Matlock.

Who is  the Mr D  named in the Obituary? 

The obituary refers to a Mr D , an artist, that Elizabeth apparently formed a romantic attachment to prior to Rossetti. This must be Walter Deverell, an artist closely involved with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood,  traditionally cited as discovering Elizabeth as she worked  in a bonnet shop. However a more likely alternative account is the one mentioned in this obituary: that Elizabeth approached the Government School of Design where Walter Deverell's father worked with some art work, and  he, in turn, introduced her to his son.  Deverell launched Elizabeth into modelling when she sat as the model for Viola for his Twelfth Night.  He died aged 26 in 1854. According to fellow artist Holman Hunt, Deverell had described Lizzie as "a miraculous creature", but there is no other evidence of any romantic attachment between them. As he  was considered to be very handsome , Elizabeth may have had a tendre for him.  From 1852 onwards, she only exclusively modelled for Rossetti at his request. The fatal secret habit of Elizabeth's mentioned in the obituary is presumably is her laudanum addiction.

Obituary

THE DEATH OF MRS D. G. ROSETTA [sic]

To the Editor: Mrs D. G. Rosetta, whose unfortunate death you mentioned in your Saturday’s paper, was not a native of Sheffield, but her father was. Mr Charles Siddall, her father, was for many years a member of the Queen Street Church, and after the celebrated Samuel Frith resigned the office of leading singer at that place, Mr Siddall became the leader until he removed to London. He there became the leading singer at Mr Rasen’s chapel. When his daughter was twenty years old, she was a dressmaker and as such was introduced into the family of an artist who held some office at the Royal Academy. This artist had a son, a most promising student, the friend of Rosetta, Millais, Holman Hunt and others – the nucleus, the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite school. Miss Siddall showed some outlines, designs of her own leisure hours, to the elder artist Mr D— and he, much pleased with them, introduced them to Mr D— Jnr and the other young artists. She was encouraged to practise by them and did so at her leisure. But this was not all, similarity of mind is the true source of attachment and affection, and young D— formed a strong attachment to Miss Siddall and proposed a friendship to her that was to last for life. After consulting her friends, she accepted his offer. But alas in two and a half years from that time Mr D—, his wife and son died, and left the amiable young artist a disappointed lover. Mr Hunt, deeply sympathizing with Miss Siddall and believing her to be really clever, introduced her and her works to Mr Ruskin, who was much pleased with her efforts. He called at her father’s residence, and finding she could not afford to give her trade up, made a most liberal offer of pecuniary assistance, upon three conditions – 1st that she devoted herself entirely to the fine arts, 2nd that she placed herself under the instruction of Hunt or Rosetta, and 3rd that he had her productions until he thought her progress warranted the supposition that she could maintain an independent position as an artist. She selected as her instructor Mr Rosetta, the father of the pre-Raphaelite school. Mr Ruskin wrote to her most kindly, advising her not to apply herself too closely to her studies, for fear her injured health should not sustain her labours. It did fail and he sent her down to Oxford, to an eminent physician, under whose care she much improved. The following year she went for the same object to the continent, still pursuing her studies. He also introduced her to William and Mary Howitt, their daughter and many other literary friends. I am not aware that her pictures have appeared in any exhibition but one got up by the Pre-Raphaelites at which Mr Ruskin arranged several of her sketches and one oil painting, which sold to an American gentleman for forty guineas.

The intimacy with Mr Rosetta led to an attachment between the two artists, and he proposed marriage to Miss Siddall. But a cloud passed over their friendship and she came down to Sheffield and visited Little Matlock, Wharncliffe, Endcliffe and other places, and liking the scenery of our delightful neighbourhood she took a house on Ecclesall road. But the intimacy between her and Mr Rosetta was renewed, they met at Matlock, she returned to London, and shortly they were united in marriage. But alas! the mental labours and anxiety to do credit to her most liberal and honourable patron had been too great for her feeble constitution; it induced a secret habit, which has proved fatal to many, and her premature death has only added another proof of “how frequently the fairest prospects fail.”

[signed] W. L.