Art is beautiful, but also dangerous. Sappho (on the right here) wrote nine books of poetry, the principal subject of which is the joy and frustration of love. That these two women are lovers is clear by the pair of doves seated above them. Erinna and Sappho would never have actually met like this, living at least a century apart.

Solomon was a close associate of the Pre-Raphaelites. The influence of Rossetti, and more especially the poet Swinburne (1837-1909) – who was influenced in turn by Sappho's poetry – led him to explore the , at the time, forbidden subjects of homosexuality and lesbianism. However, he was unable to conceal his own sexual preferences and on 11 February 1873 was arrested for homosexual offences. Thereafter he was shunned by the very artists who had encouraged his daring subject matter.

There’s a great online catalogue entry for this artwork on the Tate website, which I have gratefully made reference to here. Thanks Tate.

And the image is from the good people at Art UK.