Kingdom of Naples, he first visited the capital in the capacity of
secretary to the Marquis of Vasto, but for the purpose of following,
under the auspices of that nobleman, the profession of a painter. His
tastes soon took a more decided bent, however, towards literature. He
developed a particular talent as a poetical improvisatore; and his
poems, both recited and written, gained him considerable reputation.
For some while he held the official post of poet to the Theatre of
San Carlo. He afterwards entered the Museo Borbonico, as sub-director
of the collection generally, and curator of the splendid sculptural
department,--a position which led him to devote especial attention
to the then fresh explorations at Pompeii and Herculaneum. Here he
remained for fifteen years; with an interval of seven months, ending
with the Pope’s return in 1813, during which he was at Rome, summoned
thither by Murat as a member of the Provisional Government. Courses
of lectures and literary instruction also occupied his time. With the
restoration of King Ferdinand came the spread of Carbonarism; and
Rossetti enrolled himself as a member of that society of national
reformers. The short-lived constitution of 1821 succeeded--to expire
in nine months; leaving those who, like Rossetti, had hailed its
advent with enthusiasm, exposed to the rancour of tyrannic reaction.
His patriotic verses were his crime, and proved his rescue. The wife
of Admiral Sir Graham Moore had read and admired them: the Admiral was
then in Naples; and he prevailed on the poet to terminate by flight
the cruel suspense of three months’ concealment, and to embark on
board an English vessel in the disguise of a lieutenant. His first
asylum was Malta, where he enjoyed and appreciated the intimate
friendship of the Right Honourable J. Hookham Frere; two years
afterwards he proceeded to England.
“In this country, occupied in teaching Italian, and holding the
Professorship at King’s College, he engaged deeply in studies of the
letter and spirit of Dante’s imperishable works. The first-fruits of
his labours appeared in the ‘Analytic Comment’ on Dante, of which the
opening part only, the _Hell_, published in 1826 and 1827, has yet
seen the light. Rossetti’s leading idea (indicated in this work, and
enforced in subsequent productions with the fervour of a discoverer,
vast literary diligence, and indefatigable minuteness of criticism)
is that Dante, in common with numberless other great authors, wrote
in a language of secret allegory, which embodies, in the form now of
love, now of mythology, now of alchemy, now of freemasonry, the most
daring doctrines in metaphysics and politics. In 1832 was published
his work ‘On the Anti-Papal Spirit which produced the Reformation,
and on the secret influence which it exercised over the Literature of
Europe, and especially of Italy, as is proved by many of her Classics,
Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio, in particular,’ (_Sullo Spirito
Antipapale_, etc.), a treatise which was translated into English; in
1840, ‘The Mystery of the Platonic Love of the Middle Ages, derived
from the Ancient Mysteries,’ (_Il Mistero dell’Amor Platonico_, etc.),
in five volumes; and in 1842, ‘A Critical Essay on Dante’s Beatrice’
(_La Beatrice di Dante_), the concluding parts of which remain in
manuscript, but have recently, we understand, been worked up into a
Frenchified concoction, issued, or to be issued, under the flaring
title, _Dante Hérétique, Républicain, et Socialiste_. Rossetti’s
criticisms have been much criticized. Fraticelli and Schlegel have
been his unmitigated opponents: Delécluze, in his _Amour du Dante_,
and the German philosopher Mendelssohn, promulgated, without entirely
committing themselves to, his views; an Italian writer of credit,
Vecchioni, has taken them up in labours of his own; and Arthur Hallam,
immortalized by Tennyson’s _In Memoriam_, has left a respectful though
adverse essay on the subject. In addition to these works, and others
of minor account, four poetical volumes attest both the constancy and
the versatility of Rossetti’s powers,--_Il Tempo_, _Salterio_, _Il
Veggente in Solitudine_, _Versi_, and _L’Arpa Evangelica_; the last
published not many months ago. Italy is not unmindful of his name.
“In private life Rossetti was thoroughly domestic and warm-hearted.
His family and literature formed his world, whence the talents for
society of which he possessed an ample share could not withdraw him.
No political exile leaves a memory more highly above the whisper of
public or private shame.”
Rossetti lies buried in Highgate Cemetery, with the following
inscription: “To the dear memory of my husband, Gabriele Rossetti; born
at Vasto d’Ammone in the Kingdom of Naples, 28th February 1783; died in
London, 26th April 1854.” “He shall return no more nor see his native
country.”--Jer. xxii. 10. “Now they desire a better country, that is an
heavenly.”--Heb. xi. 16. “Ah Dio ajutami Tu.”
The concluding phrase formed the last emphatic words which Rossetti
pronounced in a loud voice, in the evening of 25th April, after some
hours of approximate loss of speech. The remains of my mother, my
brother’s wife, and my sister Christina, are now interred in the same
grave. Towards 1871 a proposal was pressed upon us for transporting my
father’s remains to Italy, for ceremonial re-interment there; but the
feeling of most members of the family was adverse, and the project was
not carried out.
The tone of the versified Autobiography--which is a very genuine
document of his character and feelings--shows pretty well what manner
of man Gabriele Rossetti was; and in my Memoir of Dante Rossetti I
have given some details as to family-life and personal habits. Here,
therefore, I shall barely touch the fringe of the subject. It is not
for me to spy out every infirmity in my father’s character; and, even
were I to try to do so, I should find nothing worse to allege than a
phase of self-esteem which at times trenched upon self-complacency,
a disregard of externals in point of dress, etc., and an honourable
(and, in the circumstances which affected himself in England and his
family, a truly very requisite) habit of thriftiness which made him
count the cost of every personal indulgence, while nothing expedient
was stinted to his wife and children. I know him to have been
diligent, indefatigable, upright, high-minded, affectionate, grateful,
placable, eminently good-natured, vivacious, cheerful for the most
part, friendly, companionable: whether patriotic I need not say. Our
excellent friend Dr Adolf Heimann (Professor of German in University
College), writing to my brother a letter of condolence on our father’s
death, made the following observations, which I consider just:--“I
have never seen a more devoted man of letters; endowed with some of
the rarest gifts of a literary character, real love for literature,
unworldliness, perseverance, and warmth of interest both in writing and
reading at an advanced time of life. He might indeed have been a model
to all of us. When I look at all the great scholars and men of science
whom I have known, I do not remember one who was so little satisfied
with show as your father, who was so content with a comparatively
humble situation, and so wonderfully patient in times of affliction.”
[Illustration: FRANCES, MARIA, AND CHRISTINA ROSSETTI
_From a Photograph_
C. 1855.]
In person Gabriele Rossetti was barely up to middle height, fleshy
and full in contour until his health failed. His eyes were dark and
expressive, and did not alter when his sight was damaged; his brow
fine and well-rounded; his nose, though not specially large, more than
commonly prominent, with wide nostrils. His mouth was pleasant and
nicely moulded, with a winning smile, and on occasion a laugh of the
heartiest.
APPENDIX
I HAVE now said as much as I feel to be requisite by way of explaining
and supplementing my father’s versified Autobiography, and shall
proceed to give some further illustrative matter in the form of five
Appendices.
1. Extracts from six of the domestic letters of Gabriele Rossetti.
2. Extracts from eight of those which he addressed to Mr Charles Lyell
on the subject of his Dantesque and other literary researches.
3. Extracts from three letters of the Barone Kirkup regarding Dante,
etc.
4. Twelve letters from Mazzini--all but one addressed to Rossetti.
5. Six specimens of Rossetti’s poetry.
Under each of these five headings I add a few explanatory remarks.
NO. 1.--FROM SIX LETTERS FROM GABRIELE ROSSETTI TO HIS
WIFE
I give these letters (translated by me) for what they are worth; not
as being of any singular degree of interest in the topics which they
raise, or in the mode of treating these, but chiefly for the purpose
of showing what was the prevalent and constant tone of Rossetti in his
family-relations. Two of his children, Dante Gabriel and Christina
Georgina, have turned out to be of some moment to the British public,
and some hint of their childish or youthful doings will be here found.
In these letters I leave some gaps: in the great majority of cases this
is only done because the omitted passages are of no importance. Holmer
Green, the locality to which the first five letters are addressed,
is in Buckinghamshire, near Little Missenden and Amersham: Gaetano
Polidori, my maternal grandfather, along with his family, resided there
for several years. The final letter was addressed to Mrs Rossetti at
Brighton.
A.
[Mr Potter, here mentioned, was Mr Cipriani Potter, Principal of the
Royal Academy of Music, a distinguished pianist, and composer of
pianoforte-music. He was my godfather, and his family was the only
British family of which our household saw a goodish deal in these
early years. I infer that “the drama” which my father had written, and
which was to be paid for with £40, was a set of scenes named _Medora e
Corrado_ (after Byron’s _Corsair_),--Mr Potter having been concerned in
composing music to these scenes: such a sum as £40 appears to be ample
remuneration for it. “Mrs Fitch” was our servant at this date: I have
naturally no recollection of Dante Gabriel’s performance which amused
her, nor yet of Signor Barile. Henry and Charlotte, named along with
Barile, were my Uncle and Aunt: also Robert and Eliza.]
[38 CHARLOTTE STREET, LONDON.]
_4th May 1831._
MY DEAREST FRANCES,
No doubt you have been indignant at my long silence, full fourteen
days. Don’t attribute it to want of love, but to my wish to write you
something which might partly relieve the anxiety which you only too
much share with me. Know therefore, dear wife, that our affairs are
proceeding less amiss. At the present date I have seventeen lessons
a week, and I am expecting others.... Mr Potter, who sends his best
regards, saw me this morning, and he told me that Mrs Howard also will
soon resume her lessons; and he expressly added, of his own accord,
that it seems to be time for him to give me the £40 for the drama. I
hope to put you, on your return, in possession of some £80 at home;
and perhaps we shall be getting as much at the end of the season.
Be in good spirits then, Frances mine, because that God who gives
nourishment to worms in the earth will not abandon us, with our four
little children, innocent and in need.
I have not slackened in trying for King’s College, and many persons
have interested themselves in my behalf. The Principe di Cimitile, who
recommended me to some member of the Council of the College, learned
from him that the election of Professors depends chiefly on the Bishop
of London; and I quickly procured two letters of introduction to the
Bishop. Mr Barclay, who is his intimate friend, gave me one, and the
other came from Sir Gore Ouseley, who has also handed me two others
for two patrons of the College. I trust that Providence will second my
efforts.
The affairs of Italy also resume a better aspect; and it is officially
notified that the French Government has sent a representative to
Rome, to dissuade from shedding the blood of the poor patriots, who
have behaved with admirable moderation. Poland is darting like a
thunderbolt against Russia.
Two or three days after your departure I received another letter from
Mr Lyell, in which he asks me briefly to suspend sending him the MS.
you wot of, as he was about to start for a different part of England;
adding that by the end of a month he would come in person to see us
in London. I fancy that he has gone to present himself as a candidate
for the new Parliament. People are all in motion for this purpose;
but it seems that Reform will triumph, and the anti-reformers will
get more and more into the mire. God forbid that this Bill should
not pass--there would certainly be a revolution. All say so, and the
symptoms are manifest....
I trust that you and our children have always been well: speak of them
to me one by one when you write. I was so much pleased at what you
told me about Gabriel in your last; and it made Mrs Fitch laugh so
that she recounted it to all who came here--Henry, Charlotte, and also
Signor Barile.... Salute cordially for me Robert and Eliza: God give
them patience with those four babbykins, and especially with that dear
impertinent, Gabriel. In your last you told me nothing about either
William or Christina: make up for your omission. Every syllable you
write about them is a boon to me....
Your loving
GABRIELE.
B.
[Mr Tallent, here mentioned, was the medical adviser of the family
at Holmer Green; Mr MacIntyre (living near Portland Place) was often
consulted towards this time in London. About Maestro Negri and the
drama I have no clear idea: possibly it was _Il Corsaro_, for Rossetti
wrote some “Scene Melodrammatiche” under this title, as well as the
“Cantata Melodrammatica” of _Medora e Corrado_. The person termed “Mr
Charles” was the painter Mr (afterwards Sir) Charles Locke Eastlake:
“my new work,” which he admired, was the _Spirito Antipapale_.]
[38 CHARLOTTE STREET, LONDON.]
_15th May 1832._
MY DEAREST FRANCES,
... I should indeed like to see our skittish Christina, with those
rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes, so like her grandmother’s, walking all
alone about the garden, like a little butterfly among the flowers. I
hope that, thanks to the beneficial change of air, I shall soon see
her still prettier and still healthier than you describe her to me
now. To tell you the truth, I think Mr Tallent’s advice is better
than Mr MacIntyre’s. It is high time to wean her.... You cannot think
how much pleasure those childish English words which you gathered
from the lips of Maria and Gabriel gave me. If they are truthful, I
thank Heaven that they are good children, and that they do not tire
your mother too much with their noise and their impudence. I mean to
send them some new little picture-books which will amuse them; and
also a box of figs, in order that you may at times reward their good
behaviour and satisfy their small greed. Poor little things! They used
to await my return home so eagerly, so as to receive the trifles I had
brought them! And now neither they nor I have that pleasure....
This evening Casella arrived here quite out of breath to announce that
the King has again dismissed the Duke of Wellington from the ministry,
and has recalled Lord Grey with all his ministerial following; thus
rectifying the error he had committed. And indeed he could not act
otherwise in order to calm the huge agitation which was on foot
throughout the country, and principally in this metropolis. The Duke
of Wellington has had the mortification of being unable to find any
one who would consent to form the Cabinet with him; Sir Robert Peel
refused, Lord Aberdeen refused; all refused when they perceived the
peril in which they would place themselves. A pretty figure they have
cut--the great Captain and His Majesty,--this latter so changeable
and deceitful, and the former first deserted and then sent about his
business! It is a hard task to oppose the will of a whole people.
It is just 11 o’clock as I write to you, and I hear “_The Courier_,
fourth edition,” being called out by several voices past the house....
Let us take heart, Providence will not forsake us. You know, my wife,
that we have had recent proofs of its assistance; here is another.
Yesterday the son of the Maestro Negri called on me bringing me the
answer from those young ladies who, as you know, wished for a drama;
he showed me a letter from them in which the matter is revived. I
have had to lower my price, however, and content myself with thirty
guineas....
Two days ago, a great Italian littérateur, Professor Orioli, head of
the Bologna University, and head of the Italian Government during
last year’s revolution, visited me, and paid me a great compliment on
my new work. Mr Scrope, with whom I dined last Saturday, also said
some very laudatory things about it, which he based on the opinion of
_Mr Charles_, who had read it; the latter afterwards expressed his
admiration to me in person. Last week I wrote two long letters to
Malta to thank Mr and Miss Frere for their very opportune generosity,
which saved us from imminent anxieties.
The day before yesterday I bought myself a pair of spectacles, which
I felt badly in need of; and now, if you could see what an imposing
figure I cut, and what a grave air they give me, it would inspire even
you with respect. When you return you will certainly take me for a
president. I will not tell you how much they cost, because you would
immediately conclude that my spectacles were bad, and yet they serve
their purpose wonderfully well....
Hitherto my stupid prophecy has not been at all fulfilled, and this
letter is witness to the fact: and I pray to God that he may not
fulfil it till I have been able, with your help, to educate and give
a start in life to our four dear offshoots, who have rendered life
extremely dear to me; and I hope to pass it in your sweet company, in
that reciprocal affection which has hitherto bound us together....
Your most affectionate husband,
GABRIELE.
C.
[The “garden” here spoken of is the enclosure of Park Square, Regent’s
Park; I can remember being in it more than once in early childhood.
Sangiovanni, a strange impetuous southern Italian, was now an
artist-modeller in clay. Dr Maroncelli was a brother of the prisoner
who was sent to the Spielberg along with Silvio Pellico, as recorded in
Pellico’s book, once highly celebrated, _Le Mie Prigioni_. “My letter
for the King of Naples” appears to have been a memorial or petition.
Pistrucci (Filippo) had been run down in London streets, and remained
lame (yet still active) up to the close of his life, which terminated
towards 1857.]
[38 CHARLOTTE STREET, LONDON.]
_29th May 1832._
MY DEARLY LOVED FRANCES,
I would that I had not received your letter this time, although I had
looked forward to it and desired it so eagerly. Every word you wrote
pierced like a dagger into my heart. My sweetest Gabriel, then, is
so ill! My baby Christina suffers with her teeth and has wounded her
forehead! Oh my poor children! If the distance were less great, I
would come immediately to see my four treasures, and you, my beloved
wife, who must be immensely afflicted, as I am myself. And William,
you tell me nothing about him. You told me in your last letter that
he had a return of those fevers from which he suffered here: and now,
how is that going on?--how is he? As you do not speak about it, I will
hope and trust that he has recovered. Be good enough, dear Frances, to
write to me at once and tell me all about them; hide from me nothing,
absolutely nothing. I wish to know the facts, be they better or be
they worse.... I beg you, I beg you urgently, to return immediately if
Gabriel’s condition permits. I wish to share with you the care of my
bantlings. I would never have written you this but for this painful
circumstance, but would have been content to remain a cheerless hermit
for another month; but, now that I see that your presence instead of
improving only aggravates the condition of your honoured mother to
whom we owe every consideration, now that I see that our children,
instead of benefiting by the country air, have rather derived harm
from it (although I ought perhaps to attribute this to other causes),
I should feel dreadfully anxious if you remained any longer away from
me. Who knows but what the figs I sent may have done them harm! But
this constant change of weather has more likely been the cause, first
hot, then cold, now hot again. This belief is strengthened by your
telling me that Maria and Christina have sore throats.... I should be
the most frantic and inconsolable man in the world if I were to lose a
son, that dearest little Gabriel, the very core of my heart, and lose
him thus, far from my sight. My eyes are already full of tears whilst
writing these words, and unless I dry them I cannot continue writing,
as I do not see the paper. But take heart, my wife, it may turn out to
be nothing serious.
Here, meanwhile, is one cause for rejoicing. I have already obtained
the key of the garden for which you so often wished.... I have already
been five times for a stroll in the garden, the first time alone, the
second time with Polidori, the third with him and Sangiovanni, the
fourth again with him and Doctor Maroncelli, one of those two who
called on me one evening in company with Lablache. This walk is very
convenient, and the children will find plenty of space to walk and run
about here and there....
I have already written three scenes of that play for the young ladies,
which I have given to the son of Maestro Negri....
Count Lucchesi has told me a thing which he had never mentioned to
me before. When he went with my letter to the King of Naples, about
which you heard, he found the Minister of Naples reading my last work,
dedicated to Mr Lyell. The Minister said to him: “What a talented
man this Rossetti is! You see what persons the government of Naples
exiles!” It is well, dear Frances, that this diplomatist should not be
ignorant of what I have written; and, if it is granted me to return
to my country, before doing so I will send the work to the King
of Naples, so that he will not be able to say later on that I had
committed some old faults of which he was unaware. On Friday I dined
with that painter whom I described to you by the name of Mr Charles....
I will close this letter begging you again to write to me at once,
during the course of this week. Remember that until I hear from you
again I shall be extremely agitated. Don’t conceal anything from me,
I repeat. If you did so, you would force me to rush off to you like
a madman, to ascertain with my own eyes the real state of things.
Besides which it might cause me a somewhat serious ill; since for
some six days I have felt distressing and strong symptoms of gout,
which causes me much uneasiness. I needn’t ask you to look after the
children, because I hold it unnecessary; I know you too well. I doubt
whether there lives a better mother than you, and a wife more amiable
and affectionate has yet to be born. And so your husband idolizes you,
and his sincerest love increases with years, and he considers himself
fortunate in possessing such a rare woman.
Goodbye, dearly loved Frances, I am going to bed for it is one
o’clock. I bless one by one the infant pledges of our love, and invoke
on them health and prosperity. Kiss them for me, speak about me to
them, and--along with theirs--preserve your precious health, which is
my greatest treasure.
Yesterday poor Pistrucci wrote me a letter which really is fit to make
one weep. He says he is suffering horrible torments, and it has been
discovered that his thigh was broken in three parts, so that he is
crippled. Poor man!
Your most affectionate husband,
GABRIELE ROSSETTI.
D.
[I have no recollection of the Marchesa Marchigiana, nor of Signor
Ferri. The physiognomical estimate of Signor Janer is curious, because
that gentleman, a cultivated Tuscan whom we saw continually in these
years, was regarded as somewhat prone to backbiting; he was always,
however, on good terms with my father and his family, and I should say
that he was really amicable with all of us. Margaret, named towards the
end of the letter, was my mother’s elder sister.]
50 CHARLOTTE STREET [LONDON].
_6th September 1836._
MY DEAREST FRANCES,
... At the moment of my writing a very deluge is coming
down--lightning, thunder, buckets of water. I am sorry for poor
Gabriel, who is out for a walk with Henry....