Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood

Definition

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was an art movement founded in 1848 by a group of English painters, poets, and critics who rejected the academic standards of their time, seeking inspiration from the art before Raphael. This brotherhood aimed to promote a return to intense detail, vivid colors, and themes derived from nature and literature, which aligned with the emotional expressiveness found in Romantic Art in England.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood included notable artists such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, and John Everett Millais.
2. Their work was characterized by bright colors, detailed naturalism, and a focus on subjects drawn from literature, history, and mythology.
3. The Brotherhood often employed models from everyday life instead of idealized forms, promoting realism in their portrayal of characters and settings.
4. They also sought to integrate art with social issues, addressing themes like love, death, and the struggles of women in Victorian society.
5. Their influence extended beyond painting to poetry and literature, with members often collaborating across disciplines to create a cohesive artistic vision.

Review Questions

• How did the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's approach to art differ from the academic standards of their time?
  • The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood challenged the established academic standards by emphasizing a return to naturalism and emotional depth. Unlike the conventional art of their day that prioritized idealized forms and historical accuracy based on Raphael's influences, they focused on detailed representations of nature and vivid colors. Their works often featured themes inspired by literature and mythology, showcasing a more personal and expressive approach to art that resonated with Romantic ideals.
• In what ways did the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's works reflect the themes of Romanticism prevalent in England during the 19th century?
  • The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's works embodied Romantic themes through their focus on emotional expressiveness, nature's beauty, and individual experience. They painted scenes that evoked strong feelings and explored subjects such as love, loss, and moral dilemmas. This emphasis on intense personal emotions and connection to nature aligned closely with the broader Romantic movement, which valued personal experience over rationality and sought to capture the sublime aspects of life.
• Evaluate the lasting impact of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood on subsequent art movements and their role in shaping modern artistic expression.
  • The lasting impact of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood can be seen in its influence on later movements such as Symbolism and Aestheticism. By advocating for detailed naturalism and emotional depth, they paved the way for artists who sought to explore subjective experience rather than conform to traditional academic expectations. Their integration of literature into visual art helped blur the boundaries between different forms of artistic expression, contributing significantly to modern artistic thought. The Brotherhood’s legacy can still be felt today as contemporary artists continue to explore themes of beauty, emotion, and narrative in their work.

Related terms

Romanticism:

An artistic and intellectual movement that emphasized emotion, individualism, and the glorification of nature and the past.

Symbolism: An artistic movement that sought to represent ideas and emotions through symbolic images and indirect suggestion, often emphasizing dreams and the subconscious.

Aestheticism: A late 19th-century movement that advocated for 'art for art's sake', focusing on beauty and aesthetic experiences rather than moral or political themes.