Pre-Raphaelite Who's Who: Fanny Cornforth

Fanny Cornforth (1835 - 1909) was one of the most important Pre-Raphaelite models. She was also Dante Gabriel Rossetti's mistress and later performed the duties of housekeeper for him.

In Rossetti's paintings, the figures modelled by Fanny Cornforth are generally rather voluptuous, differing from those of other models such as Jane Morris and Elizabeth Siddal.

It is believed that her real name was Sarah Cox and that she was born in Steyning, West Sussex, the daughter of a blacksmith. Her first role was as to model the head of the principal figure in the painting Found.

Some of the paintings featuring Cornforth are Bocca Baciata, Lucrezia Borgia, Fair Rosamund, Fazio's Mistress (Aurelia), The Blue Bower, Lady Lilith, Found, The Holy Grail (all by Rossetti) and Sidonia von Bork (by E. Burne-Jones).

Aurelia (Fazio's Mistress)

Bocca Baciata

Fair Rosamund

The Blue Bower

Sidonia von Bork

Found

Lucrezia Borgia

Lady Lilith

Portrait of Cornfoth by Rossetti

Woman Combing Her Hair