Demeter and Persephone

In De Morgan’s painting,  we see Demeter as she mourns the loss of her daughter.  Stricken with grief,  she clasps her head–surrounded by shafts of wheat,  denoting Demeter’s role as goddess of the harvest. The tale of Demeter and Persephone personifies the depth of a mother’s love.  It is a myth about the death and … Read more

Pre-Raphaelites and Shakespeare: The Death of Lady Macbeth

Macbeth is such a powerful play that we fear invoking the name of it in the theatre.  It’s one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies and with so many dramatic elements, I’m surprised that the Pre-Raphaelites did not illustrate it more.  Murder, greed, ambition, fear…Macbeth has it all. The Rossetti drawing above is a preliminary study for … Read more

Review: The Mystery of Princess Louise

Lucinda Hawksley, undeterred by lack of access to certain archives,  has written a riveting account of Princess Louise.   Known as Queen Victoria’s rebellious daughter,  Louise was forward-thinking, artistic and outspoken. Ahead of her time,  Princess Louise proves herself to be a strong and independent woman in spite of her royal constraints. “She is very … Read more