An Alternative Blue Silk Dress

An alternative Blue Silk Dress takes its place at Kelmscott Manor

Perhaps the most famous portrait of Jane Morris by Pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti The Blue Silk Dress was completed in 1868, three years before Rossetti took a joint lease on Kelmscott Manor with Jane’s husband, the designer, poet and political activist William Morris.  On Saturday 23rd April 2011, 11 adults and 7 children (ranging in age from 5 to 91) participated in a workshop at Kelmscott Manor in which the original picture was re-created through a mosaic of small canvasses. 

Working with a palette of reds and blues and greens, with paint, paper and fabrics, our artists set about creating their own inspired interpretation of Rossetti’s great painting - whilst Rossetti worked on his picture over several years, this talented group completed their masterpiece in just over 2 hours!