From:Williamson Art Gallery and Museum

Name/TitleKing Rene's Honeymoon

About this objectIn 1861 the architect John Pollard Seddon commissioned Morris, Faulkner and Company to make a cabinet for his drawings (Victoria and Albert Museum). The piece of furniture was to be decorated with incidents from King René's honeymoon - a story made famous by Walter Scott. Rossetti provided the painting representing 'Music'. The design represents the moment when King René stretched across a chamber organ to caress Queen Isabella's chin and kiss her on the lips. On the side of the organ are inscribed the four states governed by the King: Jerusalem, Sicily, Navarre and Cyprus.

Rather than being a preparatory study for Seddon's cabinet, this drawing is a later cartoon, the only one exists, for a stained glass panel made by Morris and Company. The series of decorative panels was eventually installed at The Hill at Witley, Surrey, the home of the watercolourist Myles Birket Foster

MakerRossetti, Dante Gabriel

Maker Rolepainter

Period19th century

Medium and Materialsmedium: watercolour/wash
support: paper

Style and IconographyPre-Raphaelite

Inscription and Marks1. Kind Rene's Honeymoon 2. DGR (monogram)/1862
painted watercolour
Position: 1. bottom left 2. bottom right

Techniquewatercolour on paper

Measurementsimage: height: 42cm, image: width: 33cm,
frame: height: 72.5cm, width: 61cm, depth: 2cm

Subject and Association Keywordslove

Subject and Association Keywordskiss

Subject and Association Keywordspiano

Subject and Association Keywordsmusic

Credit LinePurchased from A.E. Anderson, 1933

Object Typewatercolour

Object numberBIKGM.2075

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved