Frank Dicksee (1853-1928)

Romeo and Juliet

Dicksee studied painting with his father before joining the Royal Academy Schools in 1871. He went on to be a regular and popular exhibitor at the Royal Academy and became its president in 1924. Much of his subject matter was drawn from history and legend and he was heavily influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite interest in medievalism as well as their bright colours and love of detail.

In the 1880s he provided illustrations for a luxury edition of Romeo and Juliet. One was the basis for this painting which depicts the end of the famous balcony scene and Romeo's line 'Farewell, farewell, one kiss and I'll descend'. It reflects the drift from the intensity of the Pre-Raphaelite vision towards late Victorian sentimentality, but was still voted as Britain's most romantic artwork in a recent poll.

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