The Stream's Secret

Dante Gabriel Rossetti is amongst the most famous figures of the late- Victorian era. An eminent artist and one of the founder members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, his art and life have fascinated scholars for decades. His ideas have, however, been little studied, as specialists, while acknowledging his use of symbolism, have tended to avoid analysing its nature and its sources, as well as its content. In 'The Stream's Secret', the author highlights a facet of the artist's work not previously much explored. Rodger Drew offers a comprehensive analysis of the painting and poetry of Rossetti, showing that the artist widely employed themes and motifs drawn from the Hermetic magical system that later developed into Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry. Drew connects this symbolism with a comprehensive European tradition dating from Plato and Pythagoras, running through the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance and later periods. This deep insight into Rossetti's works allows the reader to gain a better understanding of the existing bond between Rossetti's paintings and his poetry, as well as to appreciate the importance of symbolism as a language in the artist's oeuvre. More generally, Drew gives his reader an overall view of the use of this symbol­ism in the art of the Aesthetic Movement. The book is a wholly original study of Rossetti's symbolism, and will be an essential resource for teachers, researchers, and Art History students, and for anyone interested in the Pre-Raphaelite Movement. This is a fundamental guide to a proper understanding English art in the late nineteenth-century. The Author: Rodger Drew was born in London in 1951, and obtained his PhD in Art History and English Literature at Glasgow University. The Stream's Secret develops ideas from his doctoral thesis. He has worked for many years as a designer, and currently divides his time between art and writing.

Publisher -

Language - English

Paperback

Contributors

Author

Rodger Drew

Published Date -

ISBN - 9780718830571

Dimensions - 23.4 x 15.6 x 1.9 cm

Page Count - 363