Dante Gabriel Rossetti letter to Ellen Heaton, 1863 July 2

Rossetti has received word from his Christina Rossetti that Heaton would like a copy of one of the photos Rossetti has recently taken of Ruskin. Rossetti says he will send Heaton one, once they are printed but requests that she keeps it strictly in her possession, as a matter of legality. Rossetti is a little perturbed with Heaton's Beatrice painting, as the model he has employed to sit for the work differs in appearance from Beatrice's described appearance. Rossetti asks if he can change the work's subject to the bride from Solomon's Song, to better fit the model (a work that became The Beloved). Rossetti invites Heaton to view the completed head of the piece. Rossetti ends: "Hoping letter does not seem alarming as regards the picture, which promise you shall in any case be a thoroughly good specimen of work."