Study for Lady Lilith

"Study for Lady Lilith" by Dante Gabriel Rossetti is a compelling sketch and study for his later oil painting, created between 1866 and 1868. Originally modeled on his mistress Fanny Cornforth, the work was later revised in 1872–73 to feature Alexa Wilding's face, showcasing Rossetti’s evolving vision. The painting depicts Lilith as a powerful, Amazon-like female with long, flowing hair, embodying the mythic figure associated with seduction and darkness. Influenced by Romanticism, Rossetti uses chalk in his study to emphasize her sensual, enigmatic presence, reinforcing her role as a formidable, seductive temptress linked to ancient myth.