Guggums is derived from the pet name Victorian artists Elizabeth Siddal and Dante Gabriel Rossetti used for each other – a touching slice of life folded into the couples’ complex history. Fellow artist Ford Madox Brown described Rossetti’s many drawings of Elizabeth as a ‘drawer full of Guggums’, each sketch capturing a moment in time with his muse – evoking something poignant, yet fleeting and ephemeral. At Guggums.com I want to tap into the spirit of that, reveling not only in Pre-Raphaelite art, but a multitude of delights – art, film, books…our own cyber drawer full of Guggums that inspire us. Read more…
Elizabeth Eleanor Siddal
Elizabeth Siddal began her career as a model for members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, an artistic group that secretly formed in 1848. The fact that she was determined to become an artist herself is testament to her bold spirit and determination.
The Pre-Raphaelites
The Pre-Raphaelites created art that is known for its vivd and colorful brilliance, achieved by painting white backgrounds that they would later paint over in thin layers of oil paint. Their work was meticulous and their subject matter drew inspiration from myths, legends, Shakespeare, Keats, and lovely long haired damsels that we now equate with Victorian beauty.
Ophelia
Let’s dive into Ophelia, painted by Sir John Everett Millais in 1851-2. It’s one of the most famous images of Elizabeth Siddal – a stunning Pre-Raphaelite masterpiece, known for its faithful botanical precision and the delicate beauty of Hamlet’s young ingenue. Read more.
Adventures
While the escapades here aren’t all Pre-Raphaelite in nature, my perspective often is—and perhaps yours is, too. Read more.