Before the Battle 1858

Dante Gabriel Rossetti painted "Before the Battle" using oil on panel, a window into the emotional currents preceding conflict. Dominating the scene is the weaving, its symbols rich with meaning: ships at sea, a celestial banner, and a central tree alluding to life, navigation, and destiny. Consider the ship motif, seen in ancient Greek pottery and Norse sagas. It is not merely a vessel of transport, but a symbol of the soul's journey, of navigating the unknown waters of life and death. The ever-watchful moon and stars, are ancient symbols of guidance and fate. The emotional tension is palpable, the woman's downcast eyes and the knight’s reverent gaze invoking a sense of foreboding. These visual and emotional motifs weave through time, resurfacing in various guises. Each age imbues them with new nuances, yet their power remains, connecting us to the collective anxieties and hopes of our ancestors.