Focus on The Day Dream (Rossetti) and explore the Description.
Morris is in a seated position on the bough of a sycamore tree. In her hand is a small stem of honeysuckle – a token of love in the Victorian era – that may be an indication of the secret affair the artist was immersed in with her at the time. Unusually for Rossetti work during this time – this is one of his last paintings – the model is pictured full length. The painting is signed "D. Rossetti 1880" on the lower right.The scene is a representation of a young woman shaded by the sycamore tree's leaves. Above her head and around her the tree branches are depicted almost embracing her, or as if she was emerging from the tree itself, almost as a dryad, or tree nymph. She is portrayed clad all in green, her silk dress is a romantic wide and loose silk robe, flowing in graceful folds down, blending in with the tree's leaves, in a way that connects the subject and her surroundings visually. She is immersed in her daydreams, turning her gaze downwards, away from the viewer, towards something unseen or perhaps only perceived by her. The depiction of the young, elegant woman in her shelter surrounded by the branches, adds to the secretive feeling of the painting, maybe indicating the furtiveness of the affair or a clandestine meeting place. In the shelter it is dark, but around her shoulder there is light, light blue compartments against a dark green background, signalling that it is daytime.
dryad sycamore Victorian era honeysuckle