While at first glance the woman in this painting may appear beautifully rendered and well proportioned, on closer inspection, it is clear that her body is awkwardly contorted (particularly in the neck and position of her right hand), and that her dress is ensnaring her rather than folding naturally. The discomfort of this piece is indicative of Rossetti’s mental state at the time of creation, with the artist suffering from acute paranoia and depression partly caused by the suicide of his wife, Elizabeth Siddal (the model for Millais’ Ophelia). In painting the Roman goddess Proserpine, Rossetti adheres to the Pre-Raphaelite tradition of depicting the fallen woman. Equally, the painting likely references the temptation of Rossetti and Jane Morris,
