by Stephanie Chatfield
The Girlhood of Mary Virgin was Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s first painting as a member of the PRB and his sister, poet Christina Rossetti, appears as Mary. Their mother, Frances, portrays Mary’s mother.
The Girlhood of Mary Virgin demonstrates three important aspects seen frequently in the Pre-Raphaelite world:
- The use of symbolism. In Rossetti’s paintings of Mary, we see palm branches to indicate Palm Sunday, books that symbolize cardinal virtues, a vine that represents Jesus as the “True Vine”, and the lily that is often seen in conjunction with Mary as a symbolism of her purity. There are several more symbols, and to discuss them all necessitates a separate post. Suffice to say the PRB devoted great effort crafting details that allow the viewer to “read the painting”, to use Victorian art critic John Ruskin’s metaphor for interpreting works.
- The exhibiting of paintings along with lines of poetry, a marriage of two art forms.
- The use of family members and friends as models. Often this was out of necessity, however as time progressed, each Pre-Raphaelite artist would have their muses (and consequent entanglements). Regardless of motive, we see the same faces repeatedly throughout their works and exploring them can be a quite satisfying rabbit hole.
The idealistic youths who formed the PRB accomplished more than they could have possibly predicted when they set out to change the art world and their lives took several unexpected twists and turns – many quite tragic and dramatic. As always, my goal here at Guggums is to explore their history and their work with honesty and respect, along with the curiosity and desire to connect their world to ours.
Rossetti exhibited the work along with these two sonnets that were inscribed on the frame:
I
This is that blessed Mary, pre-elect
God's Virgin. Gone is a great while, and she
Dwelt young in Nazareth of Galilee.
Unto God's will be brought devout respect:
Profound simplicity of intellect,
And supreme patience. From her mother's knee
Faithful and hopeful; wise in charity;
Strong in grave peace; in pity circumspect.
So held she through her girlhood; as it were
An angel-watered lily, that near God
Grows, and is quiet. Till one dawn, at home,
She woke in her white bed, and had no fear
At all,—yet wept till sunshine, and felt awed;
Because the fulness of the time was come.
II
These are the symbols. On that cloth of red
I' the centre, is the Tripoint,—perfect each
Except the second of its points, to teach
That Christ is not yet born. The books (whose head
Is golden Charity, as Paul hath said)
Those virtues are wherein the soul is rich:
Therefore on them the lily standeth, which
Is Innocence, being interpreted.
The seven-thorn'd briar and the palm seven-leaved
Are her great sorrow and her great reward.
Until the end be full, the Holy One
Abides without. She soon shall have achieved
Her perfect purity: yea, God the Lord
Shall soon vouchsafe His Son to be her Son.
More about Rossetti