At the auction of the British and Irish art Sotheby's May 22 exhibiting the painting "Pandora" brush Dante Gabriel Rossetti with an estimate of 5-7 million pounds

Dante Gabriel Rossetti Pandora . 1871 Sotheby's. 22.05.2014 Estimate: 5-7 million pounds Source : Press Release Sotheby's

at the auction of British and Irish art Sotheby's, which will be held May 22, 2014 in London, exhibited painting "Pandora" brush Dante Gabriel Rossetti. This large (131 x 79) fabric - one of the most important works of Rossetti, put up for sale in recent years. Estimate of the lot is 5 to 7 million pounds .

Rossetti painted Pandora , the first woman earth according to Greek mythology , with the magic in the hands of the casket containing all the troubles and sorrows of humanity. Pandora got the magic box from Zeus , which has required it will never open . However curious Pandora opened the casket than clothed humanity suffering. In the casket was only hope that even Zeus did not dare release .

The image Pandora Rossetti painted his beloved Jane Morris , the wife of another Pre-Raphaelite painter , William Morris . Jane Rossetti posed for many of his works, maybe they were lovers, but from her husband she did not. In the period from 1871 to 1874 Rossetti and Jane spend a lot of time together Kelmskotte , estate in Oxfordshire, which the artist and Morris shot to stay. By the time Rossetti for almost a decade was a widower , his wife Elizabeth Siddal died of an overdose of laudanum in 1862 .

Greek myth of Pandora for Rossetti had great significance. First, the myth is somewhat reminiscent of the event from his own life : in 1869, Rossetti decided to open the grave of his wife to get out of her coffin with his manuscript poems , which he put in the coffin of Elizabeth Siddal ( out of guilt for that too little time devoted TB patient wife ) . In the original myth, troubles and misfortunes not kept in a casket , and in the vessel , but Rossetti chose to depict Pandora still not with a vase and a box like " Cassone " - wedding dowry chest .

Secondly , Rossetti probably portrayed Jane in the form of Pandora as associated himself with Prometheus ( the first man to whom Pandora felt affection ), and her husband William Morris represented Epitemeem ( brother of Prometheus, Pandora whom married , but and did not like ).

« Pandora " was commissioned by the Scottish entrepreneur and collector of Pre-Raphaelite John Graham for a fee of 750 guineas. The picture was Graham to death at his estate in Ayrshire , then hit the collection of other eminent collector , Charles Butler , then hereditary until the mid-twentieth century. Then was selling for 1250 pounds in 1966 , and later resale gallery in Newcastle. From this gallery " Pandora " and purchased by the current owner put it up for Sotheby's.

During 2013 at Sotheby's auction personal auction record for work Pre-Raphaelite Rossetti updated twice: in November, his pastel " Proserpine "was sold for a record 3.3 million pounds ( 5.3 million dollars), and in December, oil" a Christmas Carol " has earned 4.56 million pounds ( 7.47 million dollars). Let's see what the result will show his " Pandora ».

Prepared by Mary Onuchina , AI

Source : press Release Sotheby's