A Wombat follows the Lover’s Path

Inspired by artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s passion for wombats, every Friday is Wombat Friday at Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood. “The Wombat is a Joy, a Triumph, a Delight, a Madness!” ~ Dante Gabriel Rossetti

This week author Kris Waldherr shared a guest post about the Pre-Raphaelites and Venice, a subject dear to her heart and a source of inspiration for her book The Lover’s Path. In honor of the newly released e-book, The Lover’s Path shall be the theme of this week’s Wombat Friday.  See my review of book here and visit LoversPathBook.com to order (several formats are available).

Above, our hero the wombat appears to be reading John L. Stoddard’s 1897 lecture on Venice:

Venice is still victorious over Time.  Despite her age, the City of the Sea is fascinating still. She has successfully defied a dozen centuries ; she may perhaps defy as many more. All other cities in the world resemble one another. Venice remains unique. — John L. Stoddard

The Lover’s Path is a journey that owes inspiration to several famous lovers. As I mentioned in my previous post, these iconic couples will be familiar to devotees of Pre-Raphaelite art.   Dante and Beatrice, Tristan and Isolde, Orpheus and Eurydice, and Eros and Psyche all appear frequently in Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite works. A few examples are:

'Dante and Beatrice', Marie Spartali Stillman
‘Dante and Beatrice’, Marie Spartali Stillman
'Orpheus and Eurydice on the banks of the Styx', John Roddam Spencer Stanhope
‘Orpheus and Eurydice on the banks of the Styx’, John Roddam Spencer Stanhope
'Cupid Gazing at Psyche',Sir Edward Burne-Jones
‘Cupid Gazing at Psyche’,Sir Edward Burne-Jones
'Tristan and Isolde with the Potion', John William Waterhouse
‘Tristan and Isolde with the Potion’, John William Waterhouse

You might enjoy these previous posts:

The Unrequited Love of Dante and Beatrice

Shades of Dante

Don’t Look Back! Orpheus and Eurydice

Psyche, Goddess of Soul and Memory

Happy #WombatFriday, you can follow along at the Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood Facebook page or Twitter.

 

 

Wombat with the tragic lovers Tristan and Isolde, painted by John William Waterhouse
Wombat with the tragic lovers Tristan and Isolde, painted by John William Waterhouse

 

 

 

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