Full-length Portrait of a Woman

The Full-length Portrait of a Woman by Dante Gabriel Rossetti English, 1828-1882, is a significant drawing that provides insight into the preparatory methods of this celebrated Pre-Raphaelite artist. Although the period of execution spans an extended time, from 1846 to 1882, the classification as a drawing suggests it served either as a highly finished study or a stand-alone work deeply engaged with the artist’s evolving aesthetic goals.

Rossetti employed a meticulous technique, utilizing pen and brown ink alongside brush and brown wash, skillfully layered over an initial graphite sketch. The work is executed on ivory laid paper, which has subsequently been laid down on board for preservation. This combination of media allows for precise line work and subtle tonal variations, demonstrating the draftsman’s ability to define form and atmosphere purely through monochrome drawing.

As a core figure in 19th-century English art, Rossetti’s preoccupation with idealized female beauty is evident even in this early drawing. His style defined a major branch of the Victorian artistic movement centered in England, emphasizing historical themes and symbolic realism. Works such as this were highly sought after by contemporary collectors, and many finished drawings were later reproduced as fine art prints, broadening the public’s access to the Pre-Raphaelite vision. This detailed record of the artist’s hand is preserved in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering scholars and enthusiasts a direct look at the creative process of one of Victorian England’s greatest artistic minds.