The Return Of Tibullus To Delia 1868

Dante Gabriel Rossetti painted “The Return of Tibullus to Delia” in oil on panel sometime in the late 19th century. Rossetti, a co-founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, was deeply invested in the revival of medieval artistic styles and themes. The painting depicts a scene inspired by the Roman poet Tibullus’s love elegies. Tibullus, the figure in red, is dramatically halted upon his return to Delia. But is his entry a welcome one? Delia, in her languid repose and averted gaze, is the picture of ambivalence. She seems more interested in the music being played by the other woman in the scene. Rossetti often explored complex relationships and the inner lives of women. Here, he develops an alternative narrative of female agency and emotional complexity, which reflects a shift away from traditional, passive representations of women in art. The painting offers a glimpse into the emotional dimensions of love and longing. It also subtly challenges the conventional power dynamics of the time.