Beata Beatrix facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beata Beatrix |
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| Artist | Dante Gabriel Rossetti |
| Year | c. 1864–1870 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 86.4 cm × 66 cm (34 in × 26 in) |
| Location | Tate Britain, London |
| Beata Beatrix | |
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| Artist | Dante Gabriel Rossetti |
| Year | c. 1871–1872 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 87.5 cm × 69.3 cm (34 7/16 in × 27 1/4 in); [predella: 26.5 cm × 69.2 cm]. |
| Location | Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago |
Beata Beatrix is a famous painting by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti. He painted several versions of it. The painting shows Beatrice Portinari, a character from an old Italian poem called La Vita Nuova by Dante Alighieri. It captures the moment of her death. The first version of this oil painting was finished in 1870.
About the Painting
The name "Beata Beatrix" means "Blessed Beatrice" in English. Rossetti loved the story of La Vita Nuova since he was a child. He even translated it into English and published it in a book.
Rossetti used his wife, Elizabeth Siddal, as the model for Beatrice. Elizabeth had passed away in 1862. Rossetti created the painting using many drawings he had made of her. The painting includes special symbols. A red dove, which is a messenger of love, shows Rossetti's love for Elizabeth. A white poppy in the painting represents the way she died.
Some of Elizabeth's friends thought the painting didn't look exactly like her drawings. They felt her face looked harder, and her neck seemed out of proportion. Still, Beata Beatrix is one of Rossetti's most well-known artworks. Because of this painting, Elizabeth Siddal's name is often connected with Dante Alighieri's Beatrice.
In a letter from 1873, Rossetti explained his painting. He said it was not meant to show the exact moment Beatrice died. Instead, it was an idea of the subject, like a dream or a sudden spiritual change.
The first version of this painting is on display at the Tate Britain museum in London. It was given to the museum in 1889.
Other Versions by Rossetti
A man named William Graham asked Rossetti to paint another version of Beata Beatrix. Rossetti wasn't sure at first. But after starting and stopping, he began to enjoy working on the theme again. He changed the light in this new version and made the background clearer. He also made Beatrice look even more ideal.
This second oil painting was made between 1871 and 1872. It is a little larger than the first one. It also has a special bottom panel called a predella. This panel shows Dante Alighieri and Beatrice meeting in paradise. Rossetti designed the frame for this version himself. This painting is now at the Art Institute of Chicago in the United States.
Rossetti created several other versions of Beata Beatrix. These include a watercolor painting, a chalk drawing, and another oil painting started in 1877. This last painting was not finished when Rossetti passed away. His friend, Ford Madox Brown, completed it for him. In this painting, the bird flying towards Beatrice is a white dove. It holds red poppies in its beak, which is different from the original. This painting is in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in England. Another oil painting from 1880 is in the National Galleries of Scotland.
See also
- List of paintings by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
