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Bringing you the best of the era, this London sale illustrates three highly important aspects of Victorian art and the artists that embody them.

The Pre-Raphaelite: Dante Gabriel Rossetti

The sale includes a strong selection of Pre-Raphaelite drawings led by a work in pencil by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882). The sitter for this intimate drawing of a young woman sewing in a domestic interior, was Jane Morris, the wife of the writer and designer William Morris. Rossetti fell passionately in love with Jane and she continued to model for him throughout his career becoming his inspiration and muse. The delicacy, scale and mood of this alluring study is in marked contrast to Rossetti’s later paintings of her. Jane Morris was the model for many of Rossetti’s most important compositions, including Proserpine (1874, Tate).

The Neoclassical: Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema O.M., R.A.

The Neoclassical movement is represented by The Mirror by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, O.M., R.A. (1836–1912). Alma-Tadema excelled at painting historically accurate depictions of the Ancient World. In addition to studying objects in the British Museum, he would regularly visit Naples to tour the remains at Pompeii and Herculaneum. The sinuous curves, and delicate gesture of the sitters’ hands led to the picture being known for a time by the alternative title of The Honeymoon.

The Aesthetic: Frank Cadogan Cowper

Lastly, the Aesthetic movement is embodied by this spectacular work by Frank Cadogan Cowper entitled The Blue Bird. The Aesthetic movement’s preoccupation with beauty and decadence is perfectly demonstrated in Cowper’s stunning work. Exhibited at the Royal Academy, London in 1918, and unseen by the public since, the work is a welcome rediscovery. Although it was painted in the early 20th century, Cowper was greatly influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites who were painting 50 years earlier, and especially by Rossetti. Rossetti in turn was inspired by the richly jewelled and sumptuously costumed portraits of 16th century Venice. The subject of the picture comes from a fairy tale entitled The Blue Bird, written by Madame D’Aulnoy which was published in 1697. Its English translation was included in The Green Fairy Book, published in 1897. The heroine of the tale, a princess, was locked in a castle turret after her Prince Charming had refused to marry her ugly sister. He had been changed by a sorceress into a blue bird, who brought jewels to his true love as a token of affection. The Princess eventually used these jewels to buy her way to freedom. The curse was then lifted, and the couple lived happily ever after.