Final answer:
Elizabeth Barrett Browning did indeed suffer from an unknown illness, characterized by partially cataleptical episodes and a general decline in health over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that Elizabeth Barrett Browning suffered from an unknown disease. Throughout much of her life, she experienced various health issues that were not well-understood by her doctors. The symptoms described in the reference material show similarities to her condition—frequent transient affections of a partially cataleptical character, and a gradual wasting away that suggests a chronic, debilitating illness. The figure sculpted by Edmonia Lewis, titled Clasped Hands of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, may not directly depict her illness, but it symbolizes the intimate bond between Elizabeth and her husband, Robert Browning, who supported her through her health struggles.