Christina Rosetti's 'song' "When I am dead, my dearest" relates to the painting in Tate Britain Beata Beatrix by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The poem talks about how when she dies she asks her significant other to not play sad songs for her, place flowers, or plant a tree by her grave. She also talks about how its ok if he does remember her but also okay if he forgets about her. In the second stanza she talks about how it would not be a big deal for her if her loved one did not remember her because she will be dreaming and not be able to see shadows, feel the rain, or hear the nightingale. Christina Rossetti also says in the last two lines how she might not even remember him after her death. The painting by Dante Rosetti is of his wife Elizabeth Siddal and shows his grief towards her death. This painting has a very dream like quality. This painting shows Elizabeth Siddal right before her death as she is transforming into a "sudden spiritual transfiguration" (Rosetti, in a letter of 1873). The angel represents love while the dove, which is a symbol of the holy spirit, represents death. The dove also has an opium poppy in its beak which also expresses death. The sundial in the painting shows us that her death was just a matter of time. I really enjoyed this painting especially because of the fact that its the scene right before her death. She has a glowing aura around her head and gives a transcendental feeling to the painting.

By Madison Foster