Life — June 8, 1905 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page illustrates **Romola**, the heroine of George Eliot's 1863 novel set in Renaissance Florence. The image depicts a woman in classical dress seated beside ornate Renaissance furniture, wearing a headpiece and flowing robes. A shadowy figure appears in the background. The illustration accompanies Life magazine's "Gallery of Heroines" series, which featured famous literary female characters. Romola was a notable choice—Eliot's novel explored themes of conscience, sacrifice, and moral struggle through a educated woman navigating a corrupt society. By including Romola in their heroines gallery, Life positioned her as an exemplary female character worthy of contemporary admiration, emphasizing literature's role in celebrating women of principle and intelligence.