Sancta Lilias 1874

Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s Sancta Lilias was created with oil on canvas in 1874. At first glance, this painting captivates with its aesthetic beauty, drawing the viewer in with its Pre-Raphaelite style and serene subject. However, it is equally important to consider the material and processes behind its creation. Rossetti, a skilled painter, employed traditional techniques, layering oil paints to achieve a luminous and ethereal quality. The texture of the canvas subtly shows through, adding depth to the image. The choice of oil paint, itself a product of industrial manufacturing, reflects the changing world in which Rossetti lived and worked. His engagement with materials and the labor-intensive process of painting also connects him to broader issues of production and consumption in Victorian society. By looking closely at the materials, making, and context of Sancta Lilias, we can see how Rossetti challenged conventional distinctions between fine art and craft, offering a new way of understanding the world around him.