Biography of William Michael Rossetti 1829-1919
Paternal Family Tree: Rossetti
In 1826 [his father] Gabriele Pasquale Giuseppe Rossetti (age 42) and [his mother] Frances Mary Lavinia Polidori (age 25) were married.
On 25 Sep 1829 William Michael Rossetti was born to Gabriele Pasquale Giuseppe Rossetti (age 46) and Frances Mary Lavinia Polidori (age 29).
In Sep 1847 the Pre-Raphealite Brotherhood was formed at 7 Gower Street, Camden [Map], the home of John Everett Millais 1st Baronet (age 18). The founder members included brothers [his brother] Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 19) and William Michael Rossetti (age 17), and William Holman Hunt (age 20), John Everett Millais 1st Baronet (age 18) and Thomas Woolner (age 21).
1849. John Everett Millais 1st Baronet (age 19). "Isabella". From the poem Isabella and the Pot of Basil and the book Decameron Day Four Story Five. Note the initials PRB on the bottom of the table leg. The painting is on display at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.
The models are believed to be:
[his brother] Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 20): Far right drinking from glass.
William Michael Rossetti (age 19): Lorenzo, offering an orange to Isabella.
Isabella: Decameron Day Four Story Five. Summary. Lisabetta's brothers murder her lover. He appears to her in a dream and shows her where he is buried. She secretly disinters the head and places it in a pot of basil, over which she weeps for a long time every day. In the end her brothers take it away from her, and shortly thereafter she dies of grief.
Mar 1850. [his brother] Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 21). "Ecce Ancilla Domini!" aka The Annunciation. Models: Angel William Michael Rossetti (age 20), Mary [his sister] Christina Georgina Rossetti (age 19).
On 26 Apr 1854 [his father] Gabriele Pasquale Giuseppe Rossetti (age 71) died. He was buried in the Rossetti Family Grave at HIghgate Cemetery.
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1855-1857. 06 Jun 1857. Received from Wm. Rossetti (age 27) circular of the New York Exhibition of British Art. Works to be in readiness by end of August. Augustus Ruxton projector. [his future father-in-law] F. M. Brown (age 36) goes with the things.
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1855-1857. 30 Jun 1857. Wm. Rossetti (age 27) told me that Roughskin (age 38) had married his wife [Euphemia "Effie" Gray Lady Millais (age 29)] when she was very ill ....
On 28 Dec 1865 William Holman Hunt (age 38) and Fanny Waugh (age 32) were married at Christ Church Paddington. William Michael Rossetti (age 36), and her brother and sister Emily and George were witnesses. She, Fanny, would die the following year eight days short of their anniversary. He would, ten years later, marry her younger sister Marion Edith Waugh (age 18); an example of Married to Two Siblings.
Letters of Christina Rossetti. 56 Euston Square, London, N.W.
Thursday afternoon. [August 1869]
My dear Alice (age 44)
You who are lady of castle and lands, and deal justice not only to man and maid but likewise to fish and fowl, might be amused to witness the painstaking responsibility and toil with which I keep house for two. This arduous housekeeping added to my habitual labours and enterprises must explain your kind letter's having waited awhile for its answer; its enclosed plume of fluff1 fans the flame of my grateful remembrance of you and Penkill,-not that this needed fanning.
Please thank Mr Scott (age 58) for the note which puts my scrap to the blush, and assure him that if a second creative moment unlocks the lips of Sir Bedavere2 the golden utterance will reach [his sister] Maria (age 42) whether addressed to her in Euston Sq., or at 3 Copt Hall Place-Folkestone.
It is a blameless triumph that a letter reached you on Tuesday morning. I hope the oldest inhabitant continues to thrive, and that if the crabb-dear me! I have turned him into ½ a poet!3-if the crab's position becomes too pitiable he may regain freedom and peace in his native sea. Aunt Eliza was delighted with the weed we picked up together, and cannot have had such a haul I know not when.-Mrs Scott shared with me the enjoyment of your letter last Saturday when I had the pleasure of lunching with her at Notting Hill. She looked and seemed well. Now I am hoping, but not with confidence, that she will say "yes" and meet the Edgcomes4 at tea here next Saturday. These mutual friends are migrating to the immediate neighbourhood of Oxford with an eye to retrenchment, and have promised to make two at a peculiarly festive festivity which may call together no more than themselves and Aunt Eliza to honour my teaboard;-for Mrs Scott may say "no", and William (age 39) may have flitted to Folkestone for a glimpse of our Mother. [his brother] Gabriel (age 41) le désiré has asked people to dine with him tomorrow, so presumably he cannot at once be exchanging Chelsea for lovely Penkill;-but I merely infer.-I hope the red lady and her blossoming bower grace and enhance each other;- and that the S.K. windows are progressing to the satisfaction both of blue-eyes and light-(!)-eyes; not to the production of a permanent "Grecian bend".5-William has read me his life of Shelley6, in which I find matter to interest me and impartiality to admire. Certainly impartiality is not a feminine virtue.-Poor ducklings suggestive of green peas! Perhaps the gentleman who discerned in you a "dear girl" might also view you as a "duck"-and thus make you a cannibal.
Note 1. The enclosure does not remain with the letter.
Note 2. CGR's allusion here is obscure.
Note 3. George Crabbe was one of CGR's favorite poets.
Note 4. Not identified.
Note 5. The first reference is to the paintings illustrative of The King's Quair, in process when CGR was first at Penkill in 1866 and completed by her second visit in June of 1869; the second is to WBS's stained-glass windows for the Ceramic Gallery of the South Kensington Museum (Bornand, p. 145 n. 1). "Blue-eyes and light-(!)-eyes" probably refer to Alice Boyd and Letitia Scott. "Grecian Bend" remains obscure.
Note 6. See letter no. 373, n. 2.
In 1873 William Michael Rossetti (age 43) and [his future wife] Emma Lucy Madox Brown (age 29) were engaged.
On 31 Mar 1874 William Michael Rossetti (age 44) and Emma Lucy Madox Brown (age 30) were married. She the daughter of Ford Madox Brown (age 52) and Elizabeth Bromley.
On 30 Sep 1875 [his daughter] Olivia Madox Rossetti was born to William Michael Rossetti (age 46) and [his wife] Emma Lucy Madox Brown (age 32).
In Feb 1877 [his son] Gabriel Arthur Rossetti was born to William Michael Rossetti (age 47) and [his wife] Emma Lucy Madox Brown (age 33).
In Nov 1879 [his daughter] Helen Maria was born to William Michael Rossetti (age 50) and [his wife] Emma Lucy Madox Brown (age 36).
In Apr 1881 [his daughter] Mary Elizabeth was born to William Michael Rossetti (age 51) and [his wife] Emma Lucy Madox Brown (age 37).
In Apr 1881 [his son] Michael Ford was born to William Michael Rossetti (age 51) and [his wife] Emma Lucy Madox Brown (age 37). He died in infancy.
On 09 Apr 1882 [his brother] Dante Gabriel Rossetti (age 53) died. He was buried at All Saints Church, Birchington on Sea [Map]. There is a Celtic Cross marking his grave commissioned by his mother [his mother] Frances Mary Lavinia Polidori (age 81), designed by [his father-in-law] Ford Madox Brown (age 60) and erected in the presence of his brother William Michael Rossetti (age 52) and sister [his sister] Christina Georgina Rossetti (age 51) as written on the base of the cross.
Letters of Christina Rossetti. 30, Torrington Square, London. W.C., October 23. 1882.
My dear Alice (age 57)
I think you will read my letter with both pleasure and pain. My dearest [his mother] Mother (age 82) sends love to you and hopes it will please you to accept from her a trifling remembrance of your dear friend who so truly admired you, our own [his brother] Gabriel. Among a few things yesterday divided between herself and William (age 53) is the brass plate of a sundial-perhaps the very one in the old Cheyne Walk garden-about 5 1/2 inches square. It has its 4 corner-screws all ready to work into stone or tree-stump and is (so far as I can perceive) quite perfect in condition. May we send it you down to Penkill?-and think of it as marking time somewhere in the beautiful place where you and Miss Losh2 cared for himself and for his health so kindly.
Send me a consenting word, please. Then my Mother will have the major gratification of presenting, and I the minor gratification of packing.
Always
Your affectionate friend
[his sister] Christina G. Rossetti (age 51).
Alice Boyd (1825-97) was the companion of William Bell Scott and his wife Letitia until his death. When AB's brother died in February of 1865, she inherited Penkill Castle, which both DGR and CGR visited during the 1860s. AB was introduced to CGR late in 1847 or early in 1848. Their subsequent friendship remained strong until CGR's death.
Note 2. AB's half sister. See letter no. 1299, n. 1.
On 08 Apr 1886 [his mother] Frances Mary Lavinia Polidori (age 85) died. She was buried in the Rossetti Family Grave.
05 Apr 1891. Census. 3 St Edmunds Terrace.
William Michael Rossetti (age 61). Head. 61.
[his wife] Emma Lucy Madox Brown (age 47). Wife. 47.
[his daughter] Olivia Madox Rossetti (age 15). Son. 15
[his son] Gabriel Arthur Rossetti (age 14). Son. 14.
[his daughter] Helen Maria (age 11). Daughter. 11.
[his daughter] Mary Elizabeth (age 10). Daughter. 9.
3 x Servants.
On 12 Apr 1894 [his wife] Emma Lucy Madox Brown (age 50) died at Hotel Victoria. Her husband William Michael Rossetti (age 64) and daughter [his daughter] Olivia Madox Rossetti (age 18) were present.
Around 1903 [his son] Gabriel Arthur Rossetti (age 25) died.
1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. 1911. Shelley, Percy Bysshe by William Michael Rossetti (age 81).
On 05 Feb 1919 William Michael Rossetti (age 89) died. He was buried in the Rossetti Family Grave.
GrandFather: Gaetano Fedele Polidori
Mother: Frances Mary Lavinia Polidori
GrandMother: Anna Maria Pierce of Middlesex
