Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood

Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was a group of English artists, founded in London by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, and John Everett Millais in 1848. The movement drew inspiration from the works of Shakespeare, Keats, and Tennyson, as well as the art of Fra Angelico and Sandro Botticelli. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood sought to reject the formulaic approach to art taught at the Royal Academy of Arts, instead emphasizing Emotion, Imagination, and Attention to detail. They were influenced by the Nazarene movement and the works of Johann Friedrich Overbeck and Franz Pforr.

● History

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was formed in September 1848 at the home of Frederick George Stephens in London. The founding members, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, and John Everett Millais, were joined by James Collinson, William Michael Rossetti, and Thomas Woolner. The group's early work was influenced by the Medieval and Renaissance periods, as well as the art of Italy and Germany. They were also inspired by the Literary works of Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Robert Browning. The movement gained popularity through exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Arts and the Grosvenor Gallery, with notable supporters including John Ruskin and Charles Eastlake.

● Principles and Style

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was characterized by its emphasis on Realism, Attention to detail, and Emotion. They rejected the traditional approaches to art taught at the Royal Academy of Arts, instead seeking to create works that were Innovative and Experimental. The movement was influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement and the ideas of William Morris and John Ruskin. Pre-Raphaelite artists often depicted scenes from Shakespeare's plays, such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, as well as Biblical and Mythological themes. They were also inspired by the art of Edward Burne-Jones and Walter Crane, and the Literary works of Christina Rossetti and Algernon Charles Swinburne.

● Key Figures

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood included several notable artists, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, and John Everett Millais. Other key figures associated with the movement included Edward Burne-Jones, Walter Crane, and Frederic Leighton. The movement also influenced the work of J.W. Waterhouse, Frank Dicksee, and Valentine Cameron Prinsep. Women artists, such as Elizabeth Siddal and Rebecca Solomon, also played an important role in the movement. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was also associated with notable Literary figures, including Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Christina Rossetti.

● Influence and Legacy

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood had a significant influence on the development of Modern Art, particularly in the areas of Symbolism and Art Nouveau. The movement's emphasis on Emotion and Imagination also influenced the work of Surrealist artists, such as Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's attention to detail and use of Color also influenced the development of Impressionism and Pointillism. The movement's legacy can be seen in the work of artists such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Oskar Kokoschka, as well as in the Art Nouveau architecture of Antoni Gaudí and Hector Guimard.

● Notable Works

Some notable works associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood include Ophelia by John Everett Millais, The Light of the World by William Holman Hunt, and Beata Beatrix by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Other notable works include The Beguiling of Merlin by Edward Burne-Jones, The Lady of Shalott by William Holman Hunt, and Valentine rescuing Silvia from Proteus by William Holman Hunt. The movement also produced notable Literary works, including The Germ and The Oxford and Cambridge Magazine, which featured contributions from Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Michael Rossetti, and Christina Rossetti.

● Criticism and Controversy

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was not without its critics, with some accusing the movement of being Elitist and Escapist. The movement's emphasis on Beauty and Emotion was also seen as being at odds with the Social Realism of artists such as Gustave Courbet and Jean-Francois Millet. The movement's use of Symbolism and Allegory was also criticized for being Obscure and Difficult to interpret. Despite these criticisms, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood remains one of the most important and influential art movements of the 19th century, with its legacy continuing to be felt in the work of artists such as Pablo Picasso and Francis Bacon. The movement's influence can also be seen in the Art Nouveau architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Louis Comfort Tiffany, as well as in the Literary works of W.B. Yeats and James Joyce.

Category:Art movements