Desperate Romantics - Episode 5

Tuesday 18th August 2009

Rossetti and Lizzie revel in their new-found status and wealth, acquired courtesy of Ruskin's generous patronage. Swept up in a whirlwind of late-night partying and debauchery they forget all about their art, including the commissions that they've promised to complete. Ruskin's displeasure at their antics prompts him to threaten withdrawal of his support unless Rossetti and Lizzie focus on their commitments.

While Lizzie is swift to obey Ruskin's orders, Rossetti, as usual, struggles to knuckle down. Instead he embarks on a raunchy affair with street girl, Fanny Cornforth. Fanny – unlike Lizzie – has a voluptuous beauty that inspires Rossetti to a new, richer and more sensual style of painting. Indeed, Fanny's unbridled hedonism, as opposed to Lizzie's tendency towards neurosis, seems to inspire a new lease of life in Rossetti altogether.

Rossetti receives further creative succour from his new young students, William Morris and Ned Burne-Jones, who offer their unadulterated worship and their much-needed assistance with a new commission for a church mural. While Rossetti enjoys himself, Lizzie, forever worried about losing him to another woman, struggles to keep her distance. It seems only a matter of time before she returns to find him in Fanny's arms...