Recollections on Elizabeth Siddal and Rossetti From William Bell Scott's Autobiographical Notes Volume I and Volume II

 A  Scottish  artist and poet as well as a friend of Rossetti, William Bell Scott's autobiography provides some interesting details and observations on Elizabeth Siddal's and Rossetti's relationship , as well as   Rossetti's character.

William Bell Scott
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On The Discovery of Elizabeth Siddal

Have I yet mentioned Walter Deverell's picture from Twelfth Night This handsome boy, with the embryo picture in his mind, was with his mother one day ; she was buying a bonnet in Cranbourne Alley, I believe, when Walter's dark eyes espied in the twilight of the back-shop a lovely face with lovely hair — regular small features with a massive surrounding of auburn, the very hair for Viola. He whispered to his mother that his future was made if he could get this fair damsel to sit, and by the maternal intervention he accomplished his object. This was the first appearance of Miss E. E. Siddal in the artistic world, and was all-important to Rossetti. He was at that time creating his most poetical works as a painter — small water-colour pictures of lovely Arthurian sentiment and invention, done entirely without nature and a good deal in the spirit of illuminated MSS., with very indifferent drawing and perspective nowhere. Now he would paint beauty only : women and flowers were the only things in this world worth imitating.

Questioning Rossetti's  Marriage Intentions Towards Elizabeth

A year or two after in midsummer, the time when I always visited London, Howitt having returned from Australia, and being with Mary Howitt and Anna Mary, their daughter, in Normandy, I found D. G. R. was to be seen in their charming cottage on the Hampstead Road, called the Hermitage. In the garden of this cottage was a painting-room or study, covered with ivy, approached by outside wooden steps. I walked up to see him in the cool of the evening ; the servant directed me up these steps, and I found myself in the romantic dusk of the apartment face to face with Rossetti and a lady whom I did not recognise, and could scarcely see. He did not introduce her ; she rose to go. I made a little bow, which she did not acknowledge ; and she left. This was Miss Siddal. Why he did not introduce me to her I cannot say. Perhaps the maid should have called him instead of allowing me to invade the studio without warning ; she may have even done it for a lark ; for myself, I had not yet heard of such a person as Miss Siddal. Perhaps Rossetti was already beginning to revise his intention of marriage : an even way of life the most unlikely possible to suit his late development. She began to think herself a genius too, and did small, quaint, quasi-poetical imitations of his works at that time, and then, her health not being good, by Ruskin's assistance she went to Mentone.

Rossetti's  Attractions Towards Other Women and His First Meeting  With Sarah Cox also known as Fanny Cornforth  Fanny would later become  a model for Rossetti, and his lover, mistress and "housekeeper" for most of the rest of his life.

The paradoxical conclusion that women and flowers were the only objects worth painting, was brought about by the appearance of other ladies besides Miss Siddal coming within his orbit. Among these the most important was one who must have had some overpowering attractions for him, although I never could see what they were. He met her in the Strand. She was cracking nuts with her teeth, and throwing the shells about ; seeing Rossetti staring at her, she threw some at him. Delighted with this brilliant naivete, he forthwith accosted her, and carried her off to sit to him for her portrait*.

*The portrait is considered to his Study of a Head for Found

D G Rossetti - Study for The Head of The Girl
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On Elizabeth Siddal and Dante Gabriel Rossetti's Wedding 1860

W. M. R*. next asks me if I knew that Gabriel is about to marry or, perhaps, is now married to Miss Siddal, whom you have heard about and possibly seen ? The family had been a little taken by surprise at receiving from him at Hastings, about a month before, the definite announcement of the forthcoming event, then to be enacted as soon as possible. Still later he had determined that it might possibly be on last Saturday, his thirty- second birthday. She is in the opinion of every one a beautiful creature with fine powers and sweet character. If only her health should become firmer after marriage, William thinks it will be a happy match. At all events he is glad that Gabriel is settled upon it. "He leaves Blackfriars, but I think has not yet managed to suit himself elsewhere." This sudden news was the first I heard of Gabriel's marriage ; nor did either I or his own family hear directly from him for some little time after. Instead of leaving Blackfriars he at last appeared there with his wife, where he fitted up another room or two and continued to live till her death.

 Here under date of 5th October is something at last from D. G. R. ; as usual, I make use of the letter only to carry forward my story —

Many thanks for your note with its inquiries regarding my wife, who I trust improves gradually. She is certainly stronger now than some months back, and the approach of winter does not seem to hurt her yet. We sent no cards, too much trouble )-you know, or certainly you would have got some. My wedding-trip was rather prolonged, and no place out of my studio must know me this autumn, in spite of various invitations, tempting to wife and self.

Soon after he writes again :

Lizzie is gone for a few days to stay with the Morrises at their Red House at Upton, and I am to join her there to-morrow, but shall probably return before her, as I am full of things to do, and could not go there at all, but that I have a panel to paint there. I shall soon be taking up Leathart's picture, almost immediately, but have been much interrupted lately by getting settled.

* William Rossetti

On Elizabeth Rossetti's Death 1862

The auguries of happiness from his marriage, entertained by some of Rossetti's friends, were frightfully dispelled. For myself, knowing Gabriel better than his brother did, though from the outside, I knew marriage was not a tie he had become able to bear. His former bachelor habit of working till 9 p.m., then rushing out to dine at a restaurant, was continued ; Mrs. Siddal Rossetti, little accustomed to the cares and habits of domestic life, willingly conforming. She had become '' a genius in art, imitating her husband's inventions in water-colours in a way I clearly saw to be damaging to the peculiarities of his own works, though her uneducated performances were at once praised by him immoderately. After her death we heard nothing from Gabriel, or from any of the family, till he wanted me to be again his Ranker to enable him to leave Chatham Place, where he had not slept since the sad event. He then after a temporary abode in Lincoln's Inn Fields, took the Chelsea house, 16 Cheyne Walk, where he remained, and began a professional success which increased through all the rest of his career.

To return for a moment to the great trial of his life. In ignorance of the main circumstances, and in obedience to a desire to comfort him, on receipt of his letter about leaving- Blackfriars I ventured to tell him I never thought him fitted for a Benedict ; but even to this he replied nothing, though long after his mental prostration had subsided, and his MS. book of poems was buried with her, I had to listen, alas, too much to the painful narrative. On the eventful night they had dined as usual at a cafe- restaurant ; he had returned home with her, advised her to go to bed, and unheedingly taken himself out again. On his next and final home-coming he had to grope about for a light, and called to her without receiving a reply. What was said or done at the inquest I know not.

William Bell Scott,  Dante Gabriel Rossetti
 and John Ruskin
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