Dante Gabriel Rossetti

He was truly committed to both, which isn't common. Throughout his life, his paintings likely made a broader cultural impact, but his poetry — particularly the *The House of Life* sonnets — has stood the test of time as literature on its own, rather than merely being a footnote to his visual art.

They aimed to move away from what they considered the uninspired academic traditions of mid-Victorian painting and return to a more attentive observation of nature and the emotional honesty they linked to Italian art prior to Raphael. This approach translated into vibrant colors, intricate natural backgrounds, and themes drawn from medieval literature, the Bible, and Shakespeare.

'Jenny' is a lengthy dramatic monologue where a man reflects on his thoughts while sitting beside a sleeping prostitute. He contemplates her life, her choices, and his own role in the society that led to her circumstances. While some parts are uncomfortable to read, the piece engages in a deeper moral exploration than most Victorian works on the same topic.

The manuscripts were the only complete copies of several poems, and burying them was a public act of mourning—a way to claim ownership of her work. Biographers have debated whether this act was also an attempt to cope with guilt over how he treated her during their relationship. Regardless, he changed his mind seven years later and had the coffin opened.

It is a sonnet sequence that Rossetti dedicated much of his adult life to, ultimately consisting of 102 sonnets. It explores themes of love, desire, loss, and the passage of time. This work is his most ambitious and offers the clearest insight into his poetic vision.

His close friends — Swinburne, Morris, Burne-Jones — took his thoughts on beauty as a serious topic and the unity of the arts to heart. This influenced the Aesthetic movement of the 1870s and 80s, and his imagery and symbolism also found their way into French and Belgian Symbolism. Walter Pater and Oscar Wilde can be seen as his intellectual descendants in clear ways.

'Jenny' is a solid starting point since it presents a clear dramatic situation and a relatable speaking voice. The *House of Life* sonnets are richer and more fulfilling once you grasp his themes, but they are worth the additional effort.