D G Rossetti’s ‘The Annunciation’ (1850), with Christina Rossetti as the model for the Virgin Mary (Tate Britain)

‘Rossettis in Love’ exhibition

There’s a Pre-Raphaelite exhibition next Saturday (26 March) in St Clement’s church in Hastings Old Town.  Bernard McGinley reports.

The Hastings connexions of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and his sister Christina Rossetti, and the wider Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB) are quite well known.

On Saturday 26 March, a small semi-permanent exhibition, Rossettis in Love will be in St Clement’s Church in the Old Town, from 11 a.m. till 4 p.m.

The exhibition will be opened by former High Street resident Jenny Ridd, author of A Destiny Defined: Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal in Hastings, and indefatigable PRB – and prints & lithography – researcher.  

George Rowe’s lithograph of St Clements church, printed by George Wooll at 5 High Street c.1830

Illustrated panels in the exhibition tell the love story of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Lizzy Siddal, and of Christina Rossetti, and Charles Cayley who is buried in Hastings cemetery.

Wallpaper and a surprise item from 5 High Street dating from the time of D G Rossetti’s stay there will also be on display.

Refreshments (tea, coffee, cakes, soup and roll) will be available, and admission is free. It is hoped that the exhibition will help to underline the Pre-Raphaelite connexions of the Old Town and encourage tourism.

St Clement’s has level access at the west entrance in Croft Road.  For those unable to attend on the 26th, the church is normally open every Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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