How did the Fleshly School of Poetry controversy affect Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s health?

The "Fleshly School of Poetry" controversy, initiated by a harsh 1871 critique from Robert Williams Buchanan, significantly impacted Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s well-being. While Rossetti attempted to defend himself in the Athenaeum, the prolonged and distressing nature of the public attack exacerbated his existing struggles.12

The controversy acted as a catalyst for a severe physical and mental collapse in 1872. This decline was compounded by Rossetti’s ongoing remorse and his heavy reliance on chloral and alcohol to treat persistent insomnia. Following this breakdown, Rossetti lived the remainder of his life as a semi-invalid and recluse, though he continued to paint and write until his death in 1882.21