Скачать или смотреть The death of art’s greatest supermodel | Beata Beatrix (1864–1870) by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Elizabeth Siddal was a pivotal figure in the Pre-Raphaelite movement, initially working as a milliner before becoming a sought-after artist's model. Encouraged by artist Walter Deverell, she posed for several notable Pre-Raphaelite paintings and eventually became the muse and lover of Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Despite societal prejudices against models, her striking features, particularly her copper-colored hair, helped redefine Victorian beauty standards. Over time, Siddal transitioned from modeling to painting and poetry, earning the support of critic John Ruskin, who provided her with a stipend to develop her art. However, she struggled with health issues and personal turmoil, particularly in her relationship with Rossetti.

Siddal’s life was marked by both artistic ambition and emotional hardship. Though she exhibited her work and gained recognition, her relationship with Rossetti was tumultuous, strained by his infidelity and her increasing dependency on laudanum. Seeking independence, she left London and pursued her art education in Sheffield, but eventually reconciled with Rossetti, marrying him in 1860 after falling gravely ill. Tragically, she lost a child to stillbirth in 1861, an event that deepened her depression and furthered her addiction. Despite Rossetti’s care, her mental and physical health deteriorated, and in 1862, she died of an overdose, possibly intentional, while pregnant once more.

Her death cast a lasting shadow over Rossetti, who famously buried a manuscript of his poetry with her. However, haunted by regret, he later had her body exhumed to retrieve the poems. This macabre act contributed to the mythology surrounding Siddal, including the tale that her beauty remained untouched in death.