The full title of this painting is: Dante's Dream at the Time of the Death of Beatrice. Rossetti had a life-long interest in the Italian poet Dante. This painting depicts an episode from the Vita Nuova, in which Dante dreams that he is led by Love to the death-bed of Beatrice Portinari, the object of his passion. Everything here is symbolic: the red doves indicate love; poppies symbolize the sleep of dreams and death. The attendants wear green for hope, while the spring blossoms represent purity.