Found this at thecolors.com: "Dante Gabriel Rossetti took his inspiration for Fazio's Mistress from a verse by Fazio deglia Uberti (1326-60) which the author had written to Agniola of Verona. The poem was translated by Rossetti in 1861 in his volume Early Italian Poets and suggests a theme which Rossetti himself illustrated in his own work: the use of womanly beauty to entrap men. Modeled by Rossetti's mistress, Fanny Cornforth, the painting is one of a series the artist began in 1859 depicting voluptuous women in classic Rossetti style with luxuriant golden red hair. The subjects are often seen in contemplative states or performing narcissistic acts. Here the model gazes into the mirror, lost in her own thoughts while she braids her hair. Fanny Cornforth also sat for a similar work, Lady Lilith in 1864."
(Entered by chris_mccormick at Tuesday August 21st, 2001 10:16 PM.)