Pre-Raphaelites

Founded in 1848 as a secret society, the Pre-Raphaelites rejected the classical ideals and artistic genre painting dominant at the time for what they considered a more spiritual, sincere and naturalistic approach.

Founded by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, they became a seven-member "brotherhood" that included poets and critics as well as painters. Moving away from the classical compositions exemplified by Raphael (hence the group's name), the Pre-Raphaelites were inspired rather by medieval culture and the jewel-like colours of Quattrocento art.

Their main subjects were initially religious, but also included literary and poetic themes, such as Sir John Everett Millais's famous Ophelia, taken from Shakespeare's Hamlet.

This book presents key works of the Pre-Raphaelite group to give an insight into their reactionary principles, their dazzling colour, their interest in love, death and nature, and their wide influence on later symbolism and beyond.

• Pages: 96
• Language: English
• Author: Heather Birchall
• Year: 2019
• ISBN: 9783836519656

Publisher: Taschen