Lettere A Colori: Descrizioni di dipinti nella corrispondenza di Dante Gabriel Rossetti
by Federica Mazzara

In many letters sent to his parents and friends, Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) included verbal translations, or descriptions of paintings - properly known as ekphraseis - as a way to explore and express more fully his own thoughts on art and aesthetics. A study of this correspondence allows a glimpse into not only the creative process, but also the most deeply held and intimate fantasies of an artist known for his complex inner life. (A note to readers: essay is in Italian.)