1863. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 34]. Drawing of Ellen Smith.
1863. Retouched 1873. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 34]. "Die Geliebte" aka "The Beloved" aka "The Bride". Models: Alice aka Alexa Wilding [aged 16], Ellen Smith, Marie Ford Model, Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton [aged 27] and Keomi aka Keytumas Gray [aged 21].
Two Biblical texts are inscribed on the frame below the painting.
My beloved is mine and I am his. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: For thy love is better than wine. [The Song of Songs by King Solomon]
She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins that be her fellows shall bear her company, and shall be brought unto thee.
Before 5th February 1865. Edward Poynter 1st Baronet [aged 28]. "The Peacock Fan". Model Ellen Smith. See entry in George Price Boyce's diary.
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1865. 5th February 1865. Called on Poynter [aged 28] to see his competition drawings for the Old Water Colour Society. One of them, that with Ellen Smith with fan in her hand [See Painting], very good. Called on Jopling.
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1865. 5th May 1865. Rossetti [aged 36] sent for the study he gave me, a pencil head of Ellen Smith, said it was by inadvertence he had parted with it, as he particularly wished to dispose of it with other studies of the same picture (Bride in Song of Solomon) to the purchasers of the picture. He promised me good measure in exchange. Dined at Mills' Coffee House. The beautiful Rafiaelesque girl has left—the waiter thinks for Australia. Alas!
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1865. 22nd May 1865. Rossetti [aged 37] sent down by Pope 13 pencil studies of heads, of which 2 (one of Ellen Smith and another ¾ of a new model) are gifts.
The other 11, viz, 3 of Fanny Cornforth [aged 30], 2 of Ellen Smith, 1 of Ada, 1 of Mrs. Morris of Upton, £10, 1 of the negro boy, 1 of a negro girl, 1 of Mrs. Eaton, and 1 of Marie Ford I pay £60 for.
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1865. 6th August 1865. Called on Gabriel Rossetti [aged 37]. He and Fanny1 only there. He was at work upon a drawing of a girl washing her hands, and of her lover; the former painted from Ellen Smith, the latter from Howell.
Note 1. Probably Fanny Waugh [aged 32] who married William Holman Hunt [aged 38] in December 1865.
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1865. 16th November 1865. Ellen Smith came to sit. Worked on old water colour head I made of her some time ago.
1867. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 38]. "Jolie Coeur". Model Ellen Smith.
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1867. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 38]. "A Chrismas Carol". Model Ellen Smith. Text bottom center: "Here a maid, well-apparelled, sings a song of Christ's birth with the tune of Bululalow: 'Jesus Christus hodie Natus est de Virgine'. i.e. 'Jesus Christ today was born of the Virgin.'".
1867. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 38]. Chalk study for "A Chrismas Carol". Model Ellen Smith.
1867. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 38]. "Ellen Smith" in chalk.
1867. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 38]. Study for "A Chrismas Carol". Model Ellen Smith.