#ellen smith

Martin Paul | Ellen Smith | The Guardian

Bottom: (from left) Eliza Brackington, Erica Brackington, Saria Henderson, Carla Henderson, Bryan Henderson, Shayna Miller

“Suddenly leaning forward, the Lady Veronica rapidly wrote the first notes on the virgin page. Then she took the bow of the violin to make her dream reality; but before commencing to play the instrument hanging from her hand, she remained quiet a few moments, listening to the inspiring bird, while her left hand strayed over the strings searching for the supreme melody, still elusive. It was the marriage of the voices of nature and the soul—the dawn of a mystic creation.”

Dante Gabriel Rossetti - A Christmas Carol 1867 oil on panel 45.5 x 38 cm private collection Artist's monogram and date bottom right: DGR 1867 Text, signature and date reverse: A Christmas Carol / D.G. Rossetti 1867 / (oil) Text bottom center: Here a maid, well-apparelled, sings a song of Christ's birth with the tune of Bululalow: "Jesus Christus hodie Natus est de Virgine" on the frame Model: Ellen Smith

Study for Washing Hands by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1865

Rossetti dressed model Ellen Smith in the same gown that she wore in The Beloved and with a similar emerald necklace at her throat. Unlike his depiction of amorous sirens or courtesan minstrels that he painted in other pictures of female musicians, he here depicted Ellen as singing a holy song in celebration of Christ’s birth, her head upturned to Heaven and her face almost touching the silver icon of the Holy family.