I’ve long been fascinated by Pre-Raphaelite artist Elizabeth Siddal, and in the early 2000s, I found that information about her online was scarce — limited mostly to references about her death and controversial exhumation. In response, I launched Lizziesiddal.com in 2004 as a way to share what I had discovered about her life and work. That project eventually led to the creation of Pre-RaphaeliteSisterhood.com in 2007, and both sites became true labors of love. Through them, I connected with others who shared a deep interest not only in Pre-Raphaelite art, but also in the artists themselves and the remarkable women within their circle.
When I began Lizziesiddal.com, my youngest child was just a year old. That same child is now a grown man serving as a United States Navy Corpsman. It’s a strange and humbling feeling to look back and realize how much time and energy went into nurturing both my family and the websites.
In 2018, however, a series of life events—some joyful, others challenging—shifted my focus and priorities.
Now, I am excited to launch this new project that blends both websites together and hope you will find it as informative and engaging as my original endeavors in 2004.
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. This playful term highlights the tenderness in their bond, despite the complex and sometimes troubled aspects of their relationship.
As Tennyson wrote of the Lady of Shalott, “in her web she still delights”—and I’m spinning a new one here at Guggums, with threads that connect art, history, and the stories that still captivate me.