Dante Gabriel Rossetti letter to Ellen Heaton, 1863 May 19

Rossetti describes a "Dantesque" subject (Beata Beatrix) he thinks might be suitable for Heaton's latest commission. It is Beatrice seated by a sundial showing the hour of nine o'clock. Rossetti says that nine is an important number in relation to Beatrice in the Vita Nuova, with Dante meeting her at nine years old, Beatrice dying at nine o'clock on 9 June 1290 and with Dante describing Beatrice as a "nine" (the perfect number or symbol). The picture's background will be a landscape, introducing scenes from Dante. Rossetti asks if Heaton would like a work on this subject, around the same size as the Joan of Arc.