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Sir Galahad and an Angel

Alternately titled: Alma Mater and Mr. Woodward

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

General Description

Date: 1857
Subject: “Sir Galahad, standing with head bowed and hands joined, being armed with a sword by an angel (or possibly ungirded?), who shelters him with outspread wings, and kisses him on the forehead.” (Surtees, A Catalogue Raisonné I. 55).
Model: Possibly Benjamin Woodward, the architect of the Oxford Union debating hall.

Bibliography

◦ Surtees, A Catalogue Raisonné, vol. 1, 55 (no. 96).

◦ WMR, DGR Designer and Writer, 83.



This collection contains 3 texts and images, including:


Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery drawing

Scholarly Commentary

Introduction

The alternate title, “Alma Mater and Mr. Woodward”, signals the interpretation of this picture as “a satire on the manner in which the university authorities dealt with Mr. Woodward” (Surtees, I. 55). But the picture does not have the style of a satiric sketch.

Production History

The drawing was made during the execution of the Oxford Union murals project.

Electronic Archive Edition: 1
Source File: s96.raw.xml