Pia de' Tolomei 1868

Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s 1868 painting “Pia de’ Tolomei” depicts a sorrowful woman, Pia, dressed in a rich gown, seated in a lush garden. She stares thoughtfully, clutching her hands, as ravens fly overhead. Rossetti is known for his Pre-Raphaelite style, which emphasized realism and emotional depth. “Pia de’ Tolomei” is a prime example of this, with its intense focus on Pia’s inner turmoil and the symbolism of the ravens and the garden. The painting, now housed in the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas, captures the tragedy of Pia’s life, a story of love, betrayal, and unjust imprisonment.