Elizabeth Siddal’s surname (or Siddall as it was originally spelled) rhymes with ‘middle’.
There has been a lot of speculation about her illness and it’s difficult to play armchair doctor for historical figures. ‘Weakness’ is a descriptor often used when writing about her. We know that in 1855, Dr. Acland stated she suffered from ‘mental power long pent up and overtaxed.’ Letters and diaries of those in the Pre-Raphaelite circle let us know that her constant ill health was frequently talked about and widely known, but as Georgiana Burne-Jones put it, ‘how is it possible for her to suffer so much without developing a specific disease?’ Over time, some of her symptoms may have been the result of laudanum addiction, which caused her to use more in a cycle of self-medication. There is also a societal element to the way in which her health was discussed – there was no getting around the fact that Lizzie was from a working class family, however, being described by contemporaries as artistic, genteel, and physically weak helped craft a reputation worthy of a higher echelon.
Laudanum is a tincture of opium and alcohol. It was readily available in the Victorian era, much like over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen today. It was used widely, even for fussy babies at smaller doses. It is possible Lizzie began to use laudanum during the illness incurred while posing for Millais’ Ophelia in 1851-52. It was a substance she used for years and grew dependent upon, as Rossetti stated, “she could not live without it.”
Elizabeth Siddal’s poetry was never published in her own lifetime. William Michael Rossetti included some of her verses in several of the biographical works he wrote about his brother, Dante Gabriel Rossetti. In 1978, Mark Samuels Lasner and Roger C. Lewis published a limited run of Poems and Drawings of Elizabeth Siddal. I highly recommend My Lady’s Soul: The Poems of Elizabeth Eleanor Siddall, edited by Dr. Serena Trowbridge. Her deep analysis provides incredible insight into the craftsmanship of Lizzie’s work and builds a solid case that as a poet, we should take her seriously. Another volume worth owning is the beautiful collection created by Kyle Cassidy and Trillian Stars of elizabethsiddal.com. Together, they complied The (mostly) Complete Poems of Elizabeth Siddal and a book of photographs inspired by Siddal called This is Only Earth My Dear. Both are stunning.
Yes! For many years, visitors were unable to reach the grave except for the rare guided tour. Now, however, it is easier to navigate on that side of the grounds. Highgate Cemetery is a beautiful place to spend the day and you will enjoy exploring there. The staff is incredibly helpful and friendly.
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