Rossetti, Dante Gabriel, 1828-1882. Bethlehem Gate

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"I write according to promise to tell you that I have now 2 water colour drawings finished: After The Ninth Hour, which you saw begun, and Bethlehem Gate, for which you saw a design. In case you would like to pay me a visit and see them, I would appoint Friday or Saturday next at 11 pm or an earlier hour if such would suit you."

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Rossetti thanks Heaton for giving him information regarding Ruskin's whereabouts, saying that he "had but a poor account of him" from Ned Jones. Rossetti says he will be happy to receive a visit from Heaton and Mrs. (Emelia?) Gurney and asks Heaton to give him a suitable time for her visit. Rossetti tells Heaton that Robert Browning was very pleased with Bethlehem Gate and says that he intends to revisit the Virgin's face in the work.

Scope and Contents: Rossetti tells Heaton he will return the Bethlehem Gate piece she has sent to him as he cannot detect "any alteration whatever" in the work. Rossetti similarly finds Dante's dream unchanged but says he knows how he can revise it and greatly improve it. He states he can heighten its colour and removed the "stiffness, smallness of execution" in the work but that it would take a week or a fortnight to change and could...

Scope and Contents: Rossetti tells Heaton that her Dante's dream was taken by Ruskin on the day prior to his father's death, in order for Ruskin to photograph it. He assures her that nothing has been altered in the piece. Rossetti says that he will be glad to see her when she is in London and expresses his approval of Ruskin possibly lecturing in Bradford. Rossetti still has Heaton's Bethlehem Gate and supposes that she will collect it when in London. He...

Scope and Contents: Rossetti is having his mother and sister for dinner the following day and hopes Heaton will attend. Rossetti has been so busy that he has not made any changes to Bethlehem Gate but says that if it is not retouched by dinner, it will be by Monday (the 16th). Rossetti expresses his annoyance about the photograph (presumably the one of Dante's dream to be taken by Ruskin). Rossetti tells Heaton that his pencil drawing for her will be framed...

Scope and Contents: Rossetti tells Heaton he does not believe that Dante's dream would have been damaged in transportation and says that the delay in sending it was a result of the necessity of copying it and the difficulties in mounting it. Rossetti has begun copying the pencil drawing in red chalk which he thinks will be an improvement. He believes the piece and Bethlehem Gate will leave for Leeds on Thursday (the 19th). He tells Heaton that she can visit...