A Fight for a Woman

Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) A Fight for a Woman signed and dated 'G.C.D.R./Sep.855' (lower right) and inscribed 'Skelt fecit' (lower left) and with inscription by William Michael Rossetti 'By Dante G. Rossetti/The 2 Sketches of a Fight for a Woman/may have been done about the same/time, 1855. In writing "Skelt fecit" DGR/referred to the "Stage-characters" dear/to his childhood. The centre subject (Gipsies [sic].) may be rather earlier than 1855' (on a label attached to the backboard) pen and black ink and brown wash, on paper 7 1/8 x 8 7/8 in. (18.1 x 22.5 cm.)