Jacqueline Day

I am indulging my love of Dante Gabriel Rossetti with this brief post. In Slate Heart Louisa Spooner explains that her new gown was inspired by Mr Rossetti’s paintings, although Lowri has no idea who that is. In truth the paintings which inspired it for me were all produced post 1863, when the novel is set, but I don’t care! I was lucky enough to see some of these in the flesh (canvas?) at ‘The Rossettis’ exhibition at Tate Britain in 2024. They are exquisite.

This dress seems to have been a popular choice in Rossetti’s dressing up box, or it was a favourite colour and there were a couple in this shade. Or perhaps it was a favourite of Jane Morris, his model in most of this selection. If it isn’t the same dress it’s certainly very similar.