The Tune of the Seven Towers 1857

Dante Gabriel Rossetti painted The Tune of the Seven Towers, of undetermined date, using oil on wood. Rossetti was deeply inspired by Medievalism and the Romantic literary tradition, crafting worlds steeped in chivalry, passion, and often, melancholy. This painting encapsulates the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's fascination with medieval romance, but also their complex relationship with female representation. We see a woman playing a zither like instrument while the male figure is leaning in, as if giving direction. Her serene, almost melancholic face, contrasts with her active engagement in music. What does it mean for a woman to be both a muse and a creator? Is she expressing her own feelings, or is she simply performing a tune dictated by the male figure in the green suit? Another woman is looking over her shoulder, perhaps jealous or also in awe of her skills. Rossetti, like many of his contemporaries, often depicted women in dualistic roles, either as idealized, unattainable figures or as tragic heroines. In this painting, the artist explores themes of love, loss, and the complex power dynamics between genders, inviting us to reflect on the position of women within the narratives of art and society.