At the auction of British and Irish art Sotheby's pastel "Proserpina" Pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti was sold for a record for the author of 3.3 million pounds ($ 5.3 million)

Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Proserpine. Around 1878-1880
Pastel on paper . 120 × 56
Sotheby's. 19.11.2013 . Lot 8
Estimate: 1,2-1,8 million pounds
Result : 3.3 million pounds
Source : Press Release Sotheby's

yesterday at an auction of British and Irish art at Sotheby's in London pastel " Proserpina " Pre-Raphaelite Dante Gabriel Rossetti was sold for a record for the artist of 3.3 million pounds ( 5.3 million dollars). The work was estimated at 1.2-1.8 million pounds. This version of " Proserpina ", made with pastels about 1878-1880 years was in 1880 acquired by a member of Parliament from Glasgow and one of the most loyal fans of the artist William Graham , in whose collection was 37 works Rossetti. Up until yesterday's work has just changed hands twice , the last time the picture was sold in 1970 .

known for at least eight versions of this work , one of them is now on display at the Tate , and more one - at the Museum of Birmingham. Proserpine displayed in the depths of the underworld, with a pomegranate in her hand , received from the hands of Pluto ( the myth goes that tasted the fruit , she was doomed to go back into the earth once every six months). One hand holds the Proserpine wrist of the other hand , as if trying to stop yourself and do not touch the fateful fruit. Bindweed branch symbolizes not leaving her memories .

Dante Gabriel Rossetti in the image of the Roman goddess Proserpina (or Greek Persephone ) depicted his muse , Jane Morris, the wife of another Pre-Raphaelite artist William Morris. Jane Rossetti posed for many of his works, perhaps they were lovers , but her husband she did not. Therefore, the image of Proserpine for Rossetti is endowed with special meaning : it compares the goddess , doomed to spend half a year in the realm of the dead, with Jane in her unhappy marriage . It is dedicated to the Italian sonnet , placed in the top right corner of the picture . In addition to pastels, put up for auction, Rossetti sonnet there is only two versions of " Proserpina ».

Total revenues of the auction of British and Irish art Sotheby's Nov. 19 was 7.2 million pounds. The second most expensive lot was the " Portrait of Lady Idina Wallace " brush William Orpena . The painting went under the hammer within the estimate 0.8-1.2 million pounds - of 962.5 thousand pounds with the Commission .

Source : Press release Sotheby's