Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882)

The present drawing dates from 1850 and is a detailed compositional study for an unrealised watercolour depicting the last scene from Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing, where the two lovers receive the good wishes of those who had conspired to bring them together. In a letter to his brother written on 3rd September 1850 Rossetti wrote, 'Having found it impossible to get the Browning picture ready for next Exhib: I have designed the subject I mentioned to you from Much Ado about Nothing, and shall begin it in a very few days. I think it will come well'. (Fredeman, op. cit., p. 151).

The drawing was initially owned by H. C. Marillier (1865 - 1951), the Managing Director of Morris and Co. from 1905-40 and who was the purchaser of Kelmscott House, Hammersmith, William Morris' home in 1897. He was a leading authority on tapestries and wrote one of the earliest books on Rossetti. It was subsequently in the collection of the celebrated artist L. S. Lowry (1887-1976) who was a noted collector of Pre-Raphaelite paintings and drawings, and in particular the work of Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

We are grateful to John Christian for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.