#water willow

[vintage-treasures]

Water Willow. Oil on Canvas (1871) Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882) was an English painter, poet, and cofounder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group that favored medieval-inspired sincerity and rich symbolism over traditional academic conventions. Executed in oil on canvas glued to wood, this work features Jane Morris, his lover and the wife of his close friend William Morris.

She is set against a river landscape near Kelmscott Manor. By 1871, the affair was an open secret in London. To protect his family and shield Jane's reputation from a public scandal, William Morris co-signed the lease on this remote country estate with Rossetti to keep the lovers away from prying eyes. The composition's earthy palette uses deep greens and melancholy browns to reflect this heavy atmosphere.

The dark backdrop makes Jane's striking green eyes and vivid red lips pop, giving her a lifelike presence.

In the original chalk study, Jane held a pansy as a symbol of love and remembrance. Rossetti replaced it with willow branches in the final painting to shift the mood toward sorrow and longing. He used the flexible wood to symbolize an enduring strength within their complex romance. Loc. Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington. Dim. 33 × 26.7 cm (13 × 10 1/2 in)

[faguscarolinensis]

Dianthera americana / American Water Willow at the West Point on the Eno Park in Durham, NC

[preraphaelitepaintings]

Water Willow

Artist: Dante Gabriel Rossetti (English, 1828–1882)

Date: 1871

Medium: Oil on canvas, glued onto wood panel

Collection: Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, Delaware, United States

Description

Water Willow was a signature acquisition for the donor Samuel Bancroft. It encapsulates the aspects of Pre-Raphaelitism that were most attractive to him: it is an exquisitely executed painting of a beautiful woman, and it has an underlying real-life story that involves romantic subterfuge. The painting depicts Jane Morris, the wife of Rossetti’s good friend William Morris. Kelmscott Manor, the home that Morris and Rossetti jointly leased during the summer of 1871, is shown in the left background. It was during this summer that Rossetti and Jane became romantically attached. This painting documents the passion they shared.

[oliviarosaline]

American Water Willow

Justicia americana

This native perennial loves water and can be found in very moist habitats. Its native range spans from Texas, throughout much of the eastern United States, to southeastern Canada. I found this blooming plant with purple and white bicolored flowers among a small colony growing in the middle of a shallow creek.

June 6, 2023

Shannon County, Missouri, USA

Olivia R. Myers

@oliviarosaline

[lraquel]

Soothing, shallow and lazy, this spot on the Meramec River brings back summer vibes.  Close to St. Louis the river is more turbid but upstream it’s crystal clear. If you’re in the know, it has a few super chilly springs to explore.

The aquatic leafy stems are water-willow,  Justicia americana. 

My pic, near Crawford County MO 2019. 

[faguscarolinensis]

Justicia angusta / Everglades Water-Willow at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University in Durham, NC

[faguscarolinensis]

Justicia angusta / Everglades Water-Willow at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University in Durham, NC

[faguscarolinensis]

Justicia angusta / Everglades Water-Willow at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University in Durham, NC