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Dante Gabriel Rossetti biography :
D. G. Rossetti is a prominent poet, painter and translator. Born on
May 12, 1828 into a highly creative family, he was the brother of
poet Christina Rossetti and the critic William Michael Rossetti. He
also co-founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, which aimed to
recover the richness and purity of medieval art.
D. G. Rossetti was a precocious writer; at 20 years old, his poem
The Blessed Damozel (1847) won critical acclaim. His early works
clearly show the influence of Medieval art, from his numerous
translations of Dante and other Medieval Italian poets and his use
of realistic images. Unfortunately, a personal tragedy radically
influenced his literary style. His wife, Elizabeth Siddal, overdosed
on laudanum after their child was stillborn. This led to a a
recurring theme of romantic love, and a more metaphorical and
sensual style—as if he were searching for the wife he lost in his
creations.
In 1871, Rossetti published his first poetry collection,
characterized by an eroticism that sent shockwaves in conservative
literary circles. He defended his work by explaining his sonnets
were a “moment’s monument”, capturing everyday acts such as a couple
falling asleep after sex and provoking the reader to reflect upon
their meaning.
D. G. Rossetti struggled with depression for most of his life,
including drug addiction in his later years. He died at
Birchington-on-Sea, Kent, England.
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