3656. Dante Gabriel Rossetti to RB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 308–309.
14 Chatham Place
Monday [Postmark: 15 October 1855]
Dear Mr Browning
I forgot after all to finish saying the other day that if you’re wanting to send Page’s picture into the R.A. [1] next year & dont know how to manage it, I shall be most happy to take charge of it, if you like, & send it in, which I can assure you won’t be putting me to the slightest inconvenience, lest you should fancy this possible.
I must say however that it seems barely possible I may not be in England at the time, but still in that case I could leave it in the perfectly safe hands of some friend who was sending works of his own, of whom I shall know plenty.
On the other hand, I dont myself think it safe—as being your portrait & therefore of importance—to send it, while Page is quite unknown in London. This is a little selfish no doubt on my part—as should I have the great pleasure of accomplishing a satisfactory picture of Mrs Browning & yourself next year, nothing could give me more delight than to be first in the field as painter of you both. But of course this is all full of ifs, and no reason besides. At any rate, in case Page’s portrait is going & you’ve any uncertainty how to do about it, pray let it be sent to me.
Last night I saw Hannay, [2] who was most delighted to hear you had ever heard of him. I hope you’ll give him a chance of meeting you when next you’re in London. Meanwhile he & I are sure at any rate of becoming very intimate indeed with such Men & Women [3] as are most like you.
So good bye & good speed, most heartily, from
Yours very sincerely,
D. G. Rossetti
Address: Robert Browning Esq / 13 Dorset Street / Manchester Square.
Publication: Rossetti, 2, 71–73 (as [22 October 1855]).
Manuscript: Huntington Library.
1. The Royal Academy.
2. James Hannay (1827–73), a Scottish author and journalist who was on friendly terms with a number of Pre-Raphaelites. RB may have heard of Hannay through Thackeray or Carlyle both of whom had befriended him. Alternatively, RB may have been familiar with some of his work, such as novels, King Dobbs (1849) and Singleton Fonteroy RN (1850), or his “short-lived satirical papers Pasquin (1847) and Puppet Show (1848–49)” (ODNB).
3. Rossetti’s name appears on RB’s list of friends and relatives who were to receive copies of Men and Women; see letter 3673. Rossetti visited the Brownings in Paris the following month, taking his copy with him. RB inscribed volume I: “Gabriel Dante Rossetti—with RB’s true regard. Paris, 13 Nov. 1855” (Reconstruction, C408).
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