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To be honest I have seen this painting a number of times, but I don't think the full grizzly details really hit home. So I thought a little reminder wouldn't hurt. This is Isabella who had been having a happy time getting loved up with Lorenzo but her brothers didn't like that and killed him. Isabella found out where Lorenzo was buried, dug him up and chopped off his head so she could keep it. She kept it in a basil pot.
This painting shows Isabella having just hopped out of bed cuddling the basil pot that is sat on a carved unit which looks alter like.
Here is an excerpt from the poem that would fit this scene.
Then in a silken scarf,--sweet with the dews
Of precious flowers pluck'd in Araby,
And divine liquids come with odorous ooze
Through the cold serpent-pipe refreshfully,--
She wrapp'd it up; and for its tomb did choose
A garden-pot, wherein she laid it by,
And cover'd it with mould, and o'er it set
Sweet Basil, which her tears kept ever wet.
And she forgot the stars, the moon, and sun,
And she forgot the blue above the trees,
And she forgot the dells where waters run,
And she forgot the chilly autumn breeze;
She had no knowledge when the day was done,
And the new morn she saw not: but in peace
Hung over her sweet Basil evermore,
And moisten'd it with tears unto the core.
The death related to this painting of Isabella does not just stay with portrayal of the poem, sadly. Isabella in this painting was given the features of William Holman Hunt's wife who had died in childbirth a few months previously.
There are two versions of this painting the differences are in the alter type cabinet and the inlay pattern on it. The bigger of the two paintings is at Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne and the smaller is at Delaware Art Museum.
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It's always a pleasure to receive feedback it would be great if you left a comment on the content of this post or just to say "Hi!". Look forward to hearing from you. Kay.