The Blessed Damozel
Encyclopedia
"The Blessed Damozel" is the best known poem by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
, which was first published in 1850 in The Germ
. Rossetti subsequently revised the poem twice and republished it in 1856 and 1870.
Rossetti was partially inspired by Poe's "The Raven
", with its depiction of a lover grieving on Earth over the death of his loved one. Rossetti chose to represent the situation in reverse. The poem describes the 'Damozel' observing her lover from heaven, and her unfulfilled yearning for their reunion in heaven.
Rossetti painted a large oil on canvas illustrating the poem, and later repeated and varied the composition. In the paintings the lover on earth is portrayed in a predella
below the main composition, separated by the structure of the frame.
Claude Debussy
composed a setting of Rossetti's poem in French translation: "La damoiselle élue" (1888), a cantata for two soloists, female choir, and orchestra.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Dante Gabriel Rossetti was an English poet, illustrator, painter and translator. He founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848 with William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais, and was later to be the main inspiration for a second generation of artists and writers influenced by the movement,...
, which was first published in 1850 in The Germ
The Germ (periodical)
The Germ was a periodical established by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood to disseminate their ideas. It was not a success, only existing for four issues between January and April 1850....
. Rossetti subsequently revised the poem twice and republished it in 1856 and 1870.
Rossetti was partially inspired by Poe's "The Raven
The Raven
"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in January 1845. It is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow descent into madness...
", with its depiction of a lover grieving on Earth over the death of his loved one. Rossetti chose to represent the situation in reverse. The poem describes the 'Damozel' observing her lover from heaven, and her unfulfilled yearning for their reunion in heaven.
Rossetti painted a large oil on canvas illustrating the poem, and later repeated and varied the composition. In the paintings the lover on earth is portrayed in a predella
Predella
A predella is the platform or step on which an altar stands . In painting, the predella is the painting or sculpture along the frame at the bottom of an altarpiece...
below the main composition, separated by the structure of the frame.
Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
composed a setting of Rossetti's poem in French translation: "La damoiselle élue" (1888), a cantata for two soloists, female choir, and orchestra.