The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB) was a group of young English artists who rebelled against the prevailing academic art of the mid-19th century. They sought inspiration from the art of the Italian Renaissance, particularly the works of the painters before Raphael, and they believed that art should be based on close observation of nature and the expression of genuine emotion.
The PRB was founded in 1848 by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Other notable members included Ford Madox Brown, Edward Burne-Jones, and William Morris. The group's motto was "Truth to Nature," and they believed that art should be a vehicle for moral and spiritual uplift.
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The Pre-Raphaelites were influenced by a variety of sources, including the writings of the art critic John Ruskin, the poetry of William Blake, and the ideas of the Oxford Movement. They were also inspired by the natural beauty of the English countryside, which they often depicted in their paintings.
The Pre-Raphaelites were controversial in their time, but they eventually gained acceptance and became one of the most influential art movements of the 19th century. Their work continues to be admired today for its beauty, originality, and emotional power.
Rossetti: The Mystic Poet-Painter
Dante Gabriel Rossetti was one of the most important and influential members of the PRB. He was a poet, painter, and illustrator, and his work was characterized by its rich symbolism, emotional intensity, and attention to detail.
Rossetti was born in London in 1828, the son of an Italian refugee. He began drawing at an early age, and he showed a remarkable talent for art. In 1848, he met William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais, and together they founded the PRB.
Rossetti's paintings often depicted scenes from literature and mythology. He was particularly interested in the Arthurian legends, and he created a series of paintings that depicted the lives of the knights of the Round Table. Rossetti's paintings were also influenced by his own personal experiences, and he often used his work to express his own feelings and emotions.
Rossetti was a complex and enigmatic figure, and his work has been the subject of much debate and interpretation. He was a master of symbolism, and his paintings are filled with hidden meanings and allusions. Rossetti's work is also characterized by its emotional intensity, and he was able to convey a wide range of emotions in his paintings, from love and joy to sorrow and despair.
Rossetti was a major influence on the development of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, and his work continues to be admired today for its beauty, originality, and emotional power.
Millais: The Child Prodigy
John Everett Millais was one of the most popular and successful members of the PRB. He was a child prodigy who began painting at the age of nine, and he was elected to the Royal Academy at the age of 21.
Millais's paintings were often characterized by their realism and attention to detail. He was particularly skilled at painting children, and his paintings of childhood are among his most famous works. Millais was also a talented portraitist, and he painted many portraits of the leading figures of his day.
Millais was a controversial figure in his own lifetime, and his work was often criticized for its sentimentality and lack of originality. However, he was also one of the most popular and successful artists of his time, and his work continues to be admired today for its realism, beauty, and emotional appeal.
Hunt: The Moralizing Preacher
William Holman Hunt was one of the most devout members of the PRB. He believed that art should be a vehicle for moral and spiritual uplift, and his paintings often depicted religious and historical subjects.
Hunt was born in London in 1827, the son of a wealthy merchant. He began painting at an early age, and he studied at the Royal Academy Schools. In 1848, he met Dante Gabriel Rossetti and John Everett Millais, and together they founded the PRB.
Hunt's paintings were often characterized by their meticulous attention to detail and their use of symbolism. He was particularly interested in depicting the natural world, and his paintings often feature detailed studies of plants and animals. Hunt's paintings also often contain religious and historical references, and he used his work to convey his own moral and spiritual beliefs.
Hunt was a controversial figure in his own lifetime, and his work was often criticized for its didacticism and lack of originality. However, he was also one of the most respected and influential members of the PRB, and his work continues to be admired today for its beauty, craftsmanship, and moral seriousness.
Ruskin: The Art Critic and Philosopher
John Ruskin was one of the most important art critics of the 19th century. His writings on art and architecture had a profound influence on the development of the Pre-Raphaelite movement.
Ruskin was born in London in 1819, the son of a wealthy wine merchant. He began writing about art at an early age, and his first major work, Modern Painters, was published in 1843. In Modern Painters, Ruskin argued that art should be based on close observation of nature and the expression of genuine emotion. He also criticized the prevailing academic art of his day, which he believed was artificial and insincere.
Ruskin's writings had a profound influence on the Pre-Raphaelites. They agreed with Ruskin's belief that art should be based on nature, and they adopted his ideas about the importance of symbolism and emotional expression. Ruskin also encouraged the Pre-Raphaelites to study the art of the Italian Renaissance, and their work was often inspired by the paintings of the early Italian masters.
Ruskin was a complex and contradictory figure. He was a brilliant art critic, but he was also a dogmatic and intolerant moralist. He was a devout Christian, but he also had a deep interest in the natural world. Ruskin's writings are full of contradictions, but they are also full of insights and wisdom. He was one of the most important figures in the development of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, and his writings continue to be read and studied today.
The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of young English artists who revolutionized the art world in the mid-19th century. They rebelled against the prevailing academic art of their day, and they sought inspiration from the art of the Italian Renaissance and the natural world. The Pre-Raphaelites were controversial in their time, but they eventually gained acceptance and became one of the most influential art movements of the 19th century. Their work continues to be admired today for its beauty, originality, and emotional power.
