Dantes Dream

Dante's Dream, painted by Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1871, is an oil-on-canvas work inspired by Dante Alighieri's poem *La Vita Nuova*. The painting depicts Dante standing beside Beatrice Portinari on her deathbed, with two green-robed attendants holding a canopy over her. An angel in red touches Beatrice as he kisses her hand. Symbols include green for hope, spring flowers for purity, and red doves representing love. Jane Morris modeled for Beatrice, while Alexa Wildling and Marie Stillman posed as the maids.

The artwork is Rossetti's largest painting, measuring 216 cm by 312.4 cm. Acquired by the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool in 1881 for £1575 (equivalent to £200,000 today), its purchase was facilitated by Hall Caine. The painting faced conservation challenges, including trips to Berlin and London for restoration, storage during World War II, and subsequent restorations in 1960 and 1985. By 2003, it was deemed to be in good condition with no major issues.