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Dante discovered drawing Beatrice as an Angel: 1066

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Titles

Dante discovered drawing Beatrice as an Angel
Florence, 9th June 1291, the First Anniversary or the Death of Beatrice

Maker(s)

Draughtsman: Rossetti, Dante Gabriel

Entities

Categories

Notes

History note: Given by the artist to F.G. Stephens

Measurements and weight

Height: 378 mm
Width: 330 mm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1922-03) by The Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum

Dating

1840s
Production date: AD 1849

School or Style

British

Materials used in production

Graphite

Components of the work

Support composed of paper

Techniques used in production

Drawing (image-making) : Graphite on paper, enclosed within its own line, and a slightly curved top

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: Dante G. Rossetti PRB
  • Location: Lower left corner
  • Method of creation: Graphite
  • Type: Signature
  • Text: 1849
  • Location: Lower left corner, following the above
  • Method of creation: Graphite
  • Type: Date
  • Text: Florence, 9th June, 1291: The first anniversary of the death of Beatrice
  • Location: Above the curved top line
  • Method of creation: Graphite
  • Text: "On that day on which a whole year was completed since my lady had been born into the life eternal, - / remembering me of her as I sat alone, I betook myself to draw the resemblance of an angel upon certain / tablets. And while I did this, chancing to turn my head, I perceived that some were standing beside me to / whom I should have given curteous welcome, and that they where observing what I did: I also learned afterwards that they had been there a while before I perceived them. Perceiving whom, I arose for salutation, and / said "Another was with me". (See Dante's 'Autobiography of his early life)
  • Location: Below the bottom frame line
  • Method of creation: Graphite
  • Text: By D.G. Rossetti, from a drawing by himself which he gave to J.E. Millais and the latter exhibited at the Burlington Club, 1883
  • Location: Verso
  • Method of creation: Graphite

Identification numbers

Accession number: 1066
Primary reference Number: 13359
Surtees: 42A

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 15 October 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Dante discovered drawing Beatrice as an Angel" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/13359 Accessed: 2025-12-17 13:11:51

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/13359 |title=Dante discovered drawing Beatrice as an Angel |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-17 13:11:51|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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