A Life of Art and Devotion
Jelka Rosen was a German painter who studied art at the private Académie Colarossi in Paris beginning in 1892. During her time living in Montparnasse, she became acquainted with various artists and composers, including Auguste Rodin, Paul Gauguin, Henri Rousseau, Edvard Munch, Camille Claudel, and Ida Gerhardi, as well as Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel, and Florent Schmitt. Her work was exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants.
Beyond her own painting, she contributed to the musical legacy of her husband, the composer Frederick Delius. She used her artistic skills to sketch designs for scenery in the 1920 revival of A Village Romeo and Juliet, and her artwork appeared on the vocal score to Fennimore and Gerda. Additionally, she provided German translations for texts such as those by Ernest Dowson and Walt Whitman, which were often published alongside her husband's music.
Personal History and Legacy
Born in Belgrade, Jelka was the daughter of Georg Rosen and Serena Anna Moscheles, the latter of whom was also a painter. In 1896, she met Frederick Delius at a dinner party, and the couple married in 1903. In the final years of Delius's life, she transitioned from her own work to serve as his caregiver during his illness.
Following her husband's death, her estate was used to fund a trust managed by Sir Thomas Beecham to promote the works of Delius. She died in London and was buried in the same grave as Delius.
