Rossetti and His Circle Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Rossetti and His Circle
Cover to the 1922 first edition of Rossetti and His Circle
Author	Max Beerbohm
Country	United States
Language	English
Publisher	William Heinemann
Publication date	1922

Rossetti and His Circle is a book filled with 23 funny drawings called caricatures. They were made by an English artist named Max Beerbohm. Published in 1922, this book shows Beerbohm's funny ideas about the life of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and his friends, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Max Beerbohm thought of this time as "just before oneself." Many people today think this book is one of Beerbohm's best works.

Who was Max Beerbohm?
What is inside the book?
Images for kids
See also

Who was Max Beerbohm?

Max Beerbohm was a famous English caricaturist, writer, and parodist. He was known for his clever and humorous drawings and writings.

How did Beerbohm create his Rossetti drawings?

Beerbohm lived in Italy for a while. But he came back to England to study photos of the people he wanted to draw. He wanted to make sure his caricatures looked like them.

In the winter of 1917, he rented a small house in the English countryside. This was close to his friend William Rothenstein's home. Every day, Beerbohm walked through the snow to visit Rothenstein. He carried his drawings with him. Rothenstein later wrote about how careful Beerbohm was with his art. He also said it was amazing how well Beerbohm showed that time period.

Why was Rossetti important to Beerbohm?

Dante Gabriel Rossetti and the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood really interested Beerbohm. He wrote that Rossetti "shone" like a "red torch somewhere in a dense fog" in London. This was during a time when London was very serious and industrial. Beerbohm felt Rossetti still shone brightly for him.

Who did Beerbohm draw in the book?

Beerbohm's funny drawings include many famous people. He drew Dante Gabriel Rossetti with his sister Christina. Other people he drew were John Ruskin, Algernon Charles Swinburne, William Holman Hunt, John Millais, and George Meredith.

One drawing, Plate 22, shows Oscar Wilde. He was on a lecture tour in America in 1882. He is telling a crowd about the exciting Aesthetic Movement. This tour was set up by Richard D'Oyly Carte. It helped to promote the new Gilbert and Sullivan opera Patience.

Where are the original drawings now?

Sir Hugh Walpole gave Beerbohm's original watercolor drawings for Rossetti and His Circle to the Tate Collection in London. This happened in 1941.

A special limited edition of the book was also made in 1922. There were 380 copies, and they were signed by Max Beerbohm himself.

What is inside the book?

The book starts with a special introduction by Beerbohm. Then it has 22 main drawings. Here are some of the titles:

Note (Beerbohm's Introduction to the Caricatures)
Frontispiece: Rossetti in Childhood.
1. British Stock and Alien Inspiration.
2. Rossetti's Courtship.
3. A Momentary Vision that once Befell Young Millais.
4. A Remark by Benjamin Jowett.
5. Coventry Patmore at Spring Cottage.
6. Ned Jones and Topsy.
7. John Ruskin meets Miss Cornforth.
8. Blue China.
9. Woolner at Farringford.
10. Ford Madox Brown patronised by Holman Hunt.
11. The Small Hours in the Sixties at 16, Cheyne Walk.
12. Gabriel and Christina.
13. George Meredith's Hortation.
14. William Bell Scott Wondering.
15. Robert Browning introduces a Great Lady.
16. George Augustus Sala with Rossetti.
17. Swinburne and Mr. Gosse.
18. Mr. Morley brings Mr. Mill.
19. Mr. Leighton suggests Candidature.
20. Mr. Watts, Mr. Shields, and Mr. Caine.
21. The Touch of a Vanished Hand.
22. Rossetti's Name is heard in America.

Images for kids

Frontispiece. Rossetti in Childhood
This shows D. G. Rossetti as a child. He is with exiled patriots at his father's house. Even then, he didn't care much about politics, which was true for him later in life too.
British Stock and Alien Inspiration 1849
Here, Hunt and Millais are thinking about Rossetti's work. They say he's "very clever" and "full of wonderful ideas," but "not to be trusted for one moment."
Rossetti's Courtship. Chatham Place, 1850–1860
A Momentary Vision that once Befell Young Millais
The Sole Remark Likely to Have Been Made by Benjamin Jowett about the Mural Paintings at the Oxford Union
Jowett asks, "And what were they going to do with the Grail when they found it, Mr. Rossetti?"
Spring Cottage, Hamstead, 1860
Coventry Patmore is strongly telling the Rossettis that a teapot is important not just for how it looks, but as a symbol of home life.
Topsy and Ned Jones, settled on the Settle in Red Lion Square.
An Introduction
Miss Cornforth says, "Oh, very pleased to meet Mr. Ruskin, I'm sure."
Blue China
This drawing features Whistler and Carlyle.
Woolner at Farringford, 1857
Mrs. Tennyson asks Mr. Woolner, "when do you begin modelling his halo?"
Ford Madox Brown patronised by Holman Hunt
The Small Hours in the Sixties at 16, Cheyne Walk
Algernon is reading his poem Anactoria to Gabriel and William.
Rossetti, having just had a fresh consignment of "stunning" fabrics from that new shop in Regent Street, tries hard to prevail on his younger sister to accept at any rate one of these and have a dress made of it from designs to be furnished by himself.
D. G. R. asks Christina why she dresses so plainly when she has such a poetic heart. Christina replies that Gabriel himself dresses very quietly.
George Meredith's Hortation
George Meredith is strongly encouraging Rossetti to go for a walk in the sun and wind.
Mr. William Bell Scott wondering what it is those fellows seem to see in Gabriel
Mr. Browning brings a lady of rank and fashion to see Mr. Rossetti.
Rossetti in his worldlier days (circa 1866–1868) leaving the Arundel Club with George Augustus Sala
Mr. Sala tells Rossetti they are both "Bohemians" and understand each other. They are happy to earn money from their work.
Riverside Scene
Algernon Charles Swinburne is taking his new friend Gosse to see Gabriel Rossetti.
Mr. Morley of Blackburn, on an afternoon in the spring of 69, introduces Mr John Stuart Mill
Mr. Morley suggests that Rossetti could help Mr. Mill's new book, "The Subjection of Women," by adding illustrative paintings.
The Man from Hymettus
Frederic Leighton is trying to convince Rossetti to join the Royal Academy. He believes Rossetti's art could help improve the nation's taste.
Quis Custodiet Ipsum Custodem?
Theodore Watts tells Mr. Caine that his writings are too "luridly arresting" and are causing insomnia for their friend.
Mr. ___ and Miss ___ nervously perpetuating the touch of a vanished hand.
This drawing shows Charles Augustus Howell and Rosa Corder.
The Name of Dante Gabriel Rossetti is Heard for the First Time in the Western States of America.
This drawing is from 1882 and features Mr. Oscar Wilde giving a lecture.