Rossetti's Sonnet on "A Virgin and Child by Hans Memmeling": Considering a Counterpart

It has been acknowledged frequently that Dante Gabriel Rossetti's "Sonnets for Pictures" provide insight about his views on the nature and limitations of poetry and painting and on their possible interrelationship. A more complete and accurate assessment of these matters must include attention to the sonnet "A Virgin and Child by Hans Memmeling" and its visual counterpart. An examination of the likely companion piece, Gerard David's Altarpiece of the Baptism of Christ, and a close reading of this sonnet illuminate the process and problems of adequately discussing components of visual-verbal pairs.