25/10/2001

On the 28th of November, Christie's, London will offer for sale one of the best known Pre-Raphaelite images, Dante Gabriel Rossetti's (1828-1882) Beata Beatrix. The pastel work, signed by the artist and dated 1872, is in the sale of the De Morgan Foundation, a collection of 19th century paintings. This Rossetti work, estimated at $ 2.14-3.5 million (€ 2.4-4 million), is a later version of the oil painting of the same title, which is held in the permanent collection of the Tate Britain, London. Rossetti executed a number of versions in different media which he dedicated as a memorial to his wife Elizabeth Siddal who died in 1862. The subject of Beata Beatrix comes from "La Vita Nova" by Dante, in which Beatrice (Beatrix) enters a trance while overlooking Florence. She is then transported mystically from Earth to Heaven. Other important works in the sale include an oil on canvas entitled The Hammock by James Jacques Joseph Tissot estimated at $ 1.7-2.5 (€ 1.9-2.8 million), and another Pre-Raphaelite artist, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema and his Water Pets estimated at $ 357,170-500,000 (€ 400,690-560,920). (Andrew Moore)