'The Portrait' by Dante Gabriel Rossetti


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This is her picture as she was:
It seems a thing to wonder on,
As though mine image in the glass
Should tarry when myself am gone.
I gaze until she seems to stir,--
Until mine eyes almost aver
That now, even now, the sweet lips part
To breathe the words of the sweet heart:--
And yet the earth is over her.

Alas! even such the thin-drawn ray
That makes the prison-depths more rude,--
The drip of water night and day
Giving a tongue to solitude.
Yet only this, of love's whole prize,
Remains; save what in mournful guise
Takes counsel with my soul alone,--
Save what is secret and unknown,
Below the earth, above the skies.

In painting her I shrin'd her face
Mid mystic trees, where light falls in
Hardly at all; a covert place
Where you might think to find a din
Of doubtful talk, and a live flame
Wandering, and many a shape whose name
Not itself knoweth, and old dew,
And your own footsteps meeting you,
And all things going as they came.

A deep dim wood; and there she stands
As in that wood that day: for so
Was the still movement of her hands
And such the pure line's gracious flow.
And passing fair the type must seem,
Unknown the presence and the dream.
'Tis she: though of herself, alas!
Less than her shadow on the grass
Or than her image in the stream.

That day we met there, I and she
One with the other all alone;
And we were blithe; yet memory
Saddens those hours, as when the moon
Looks upon daylight. And with her
I stoop'd to drink the spring-water,
Athirst where other waters sprang;
And where the echo is, she sang,--
My soul another echo there.

But when that hour my soul won strength
For words whose silence wastes and kills,
Dull raindrops smote us, and at length
Thunder'd the heat within the hills.
That eve I spoke those words again
Beside the pelted window-pane;
And there she hearken'd what I said,
With under-glances that survey'd
The empty pastures blind with rain.

Next day the memories of these things,
Like leaves through which a bird has flown,
Still vibrated with Love's warm wings;
Till I must make them all my own
And paint this picture. So, 'twixt ease
Of talk and sweet long silences,
She stood among the plants in bloom
At windows of a summer room,
To feign the shadow of the trees.

And as I wrought, while all above
And all around was fragrant air,
In the sick burthen of my love
It seem'd each sun-thrill'd blossom there
Beat like a heart among the leaves.
O heart that never beats nor heaves,
In that one darkness lying still,
What now to thee my love's great will
Or the fine web the sunshine weaves?

For now doth daylight disavow
Those days,--nought left to see or hear.
Only in solemn whispers now
At night-time these things reach mine ear;
When the leaf-shadows at a breath
Shrink in the road, and all the heath,
Forest and water, far and wide,
In limpid starlight glorified,
Lie like the mystery of death.

Last night at last I could have slept,
And yet delay'd my sleep till dawn,
Still wandering. Then it was I wept:
For unawares I came upon
Those glades where once she walk'd with me:
And as I stood there suddenly,
All wan with traversing the night,
Upon the desolate verge of light
Yearn'd loud the iron-bosom'd sea.

Even so, where Heaven holds breath and hears
The beating heart of Love's own breast,--
Where round the secret of all spheres
All angels lay their wings to rest,--
How shall my soul stand rapt and aw'd,
When, by the new birth borne abroad
Throughout the music of the suns,
It enters in her soul at once
And knows the silence there for God!

Here with her face doth memory sit
Meanwhile, and wait the day's decline,
Till other eyes shall look from it,
Eyes of the spirit's Palestine,
Even than the old gaze tenderer:
While hopes and aims long lost with her
Stand round her image side by side,
Like tombs of pilgrims that have died
About the Holy Sepulchre.


Editor 1 Interpretation

The Portrait by Dante Gabriel Rossetti: A Masterpiece of Symbolism and Emotion

As a lover of poetry, I am always drawn to works that manage to capture the complexities of human emotions in a few well-chosen words. The Portrait by Dante Gabriel Rossetti is one such work that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. In this essay, I will attempt to analyze and interpret this masterpiece of symbolism and emotion, exploring the themes of love, death, and art that are woven into the fabric of the poem.

At its core, The Portrait is a love poem. It tells the story of a man who is mourning the loss of his beloved and has commissioned an artist to paint her portrait. As the painting progresses, the man becomes increasingly obsessed with the image of his dead lover, until he begins to see her spirit manifesting in the painting itself. The poem is full of beautiful imagery and metaphors that convey the depth of the man's grief and longing, as well as the power of art to capture and preserve the essence of a person.

One of the most striking aspects of The Portrait is the way in which Rossetti uses symbolism to convey the themes of the poem. The painting itself is a symbol of the man's love for his dead lover, as well as his desire to preserve her memory. The artist's brush strokes are described as "caressing" the canvas, as if he is trying to bring the woman back to life through the act of painting. The portrait itself is also full of symbols, such as the roses that surround the woman's head, which represent her beauty and fragility.

Another important symbol in the poem is the mirror that hangs behind the painting. This mirror reflects the image of the man, who is both the subject of the painting and the viewer of it. This creates a sense of circularity, as if the man is trapped in a cycle of grief and longing that he cannot escape. The mirror also represents the idea of art as a reflection of reality, and the way in which a painting can capture the essence of a person in a way that is not possible through other means.

The theme of death is also central to The Portrait. The woman in the painting is dead, and the man is consumed by his grief over her loss. The poem explores the idea of death as a transformative experience, as the man becomes increasingly obsessed with the image of his dead lover and begins to see her as a kind of ghostly presence in the painting. This is captured in lines such as "Her ghostly figure on the canvas shown / Became so dear to him he thought it his own."

At the same time, the poem also suggests that death is not the end, but rather a continuation of life in a different form. The woman's spirit is said to be "bound within the colours of the brush", suggesting that she lives on through the painting. This idea of art as a way of preserving the memory of the dead is a recurring theme in Rossetti's work, and it is particularly poignant in The Portrait.

The final theme that I want to explore in this essay is the idea of art as a transformative and transcendent experience. The man in the poem is transformed by his encounter with the painting, as he becomes increasingly absorbed in the image of his dead lover. The painting itself is also a kind of transcendent object, as it captures the essence of the woman in a way that is not possible through other means.

This idea of art as a transcendent experience is captured in lines such as "The very hues that so beguiled his eyes / Became to him a glorious Paradise." The man's encounter with the painting is described as a kind of religious experience, as he is transported to a higher plane of existence through the act of looking at the portrait.

In conclusion, The Portrait is a masterpiece of symbolism and emotion, exploring the themes of love, death, and art in a way that is both beautiful and haunting. Rossetti's use of imagery and metaphor is masterful, capturing the depth of the man's grief and longing, as well as the power of art to capture and preserve the essence of a person. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of art to transform and transcend, and it continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Portrait: A Masterpiece of Poetry by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the renowned poet and artist of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, is known for his exquisite works of art and poetry that are characterized by their vivid imagery, rich symbolism, and intense emotional depth. One of his most celebrated poems, "The Portrait," is a hauntingly beautiful piece that explores the themes of love, loss, and memory. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of this masterpiece of poetry and analyze its various elements.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a portrait of a woman that he has kept with him for many years. The portrait is a vivid representation of the woman's beauty, and the speaker is deeply moved by it. He describes the woman's features in great detail, from her "full, deep, and dark" eyes to her "rich, warm, and passionate" lips. The portrait is a testament to the woman's beauty, and the speaker is clearly in awe of it.

However, as the poem progresses, we begin to see that the portrait is more than just a representation of the woman's physical beauty. It is also a symbol of the speaker's love for her, and the memories that he has of her. The speaker tells us that the woman is no longer with him, and that he is left with only the portrait as a reminder of her. He speaks of the "long, long hours" that he has spent gazing at the portrait, and the memories that it brings back to him.

The poem is filled with rich symbolism, and one of the most striking symbols is that of the rose. The speaker tells us that the woman in the portrait is holding a rose, which is a symbol of love and passion. However, the rose also has thorns, which represent the pain and suffering that often accompany love. The speaker tells us that he has been "pricked" by the thorns of love, and that he is left with only the memories of the woman he loved.

Another important symbol in the poem is that of the mirror. The speaker tells us that he has looked at the portrait so often that it has become like a mirror to him. He sees himself reflected in the portrait, and he is reminded of the love that he has lost. The mirror is a powerful symbol of self-reflection, and it is clear that the speaker is deeply introspective.

The language of the poem is also worth noting. Rossetti's use of language is rich and evocative, and he uses a variety of poetic techniques to create a sense of depth and complexity. For example, he uses alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and musicality. In the line "Full, deep, and dark, through which thy soul doth shine," the repetition of the "d" sound creates a sense of depth and richness.

Rossetti also uses repetition to create a sense of emphasis. The line "I have kept her likeness" is repeated several times throughout the poem, and each time it is repeated, it becomes more powerful. The repetition creates a sense of obsession, and it is clear that the speaker is deeply attached to the portrait.

The poem is also notable for its use of imagery. Rossetti's descriptions of the woman in the portrait are vivid and evocative, and they create a sense of beauty and sensuality. For example, he describes the woman's lips as "rich, warm, and passionate," which creates a sense of desire and longing.

Overall, "The Portrait" is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the themes of love, loss, and memory. Rossetti's use of symbolism, language, and imagery creates a sense of depth and complexity that is both haunting and beautiful. The poem is a testament to the power of art to capture the essence of human emotion, and it is a reminder that even in the face of loss, beauty and love can endure.

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