Study for "Dante's Dream": Head of Alexa Wilding 1870

Curator: Rossetti's "Study for 'Dante's Dream': Head of Alexa Wilding" presents an exquisite pastel drawing. The model is Alexa Wilding, depicted in profile. Editor: It evokes a sense of melancholic beauty, doesn't it? A fragile stillness seems to emanate from the delicate rendering of her features. Curator: Absolutely. Rossetti masterfully employs color and line to delineate form. Note the subtle gradations and the almost ethereal quality of the light. This highlights the Pre-Raphaelite interest in beauty and symbolism. Editor: But it's also a striking depiction of idealized beauty. Alexa Wilding’s story—a working-class woman elevated to muse—speaks volumes about Victorian social dynamics and the male gaze. Curator: An intriguing intersection. Ultimately, it’s the harmony between color, line, and form that captures the eye. Editor: Indeed. A potent intersection of art and social commentary.