Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood

Definition

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was a group of English artists founded in 1848, aiming to reform art by rejecting the academic standards of the Royal Academy and drawing inspiration from earlier art, particularly before Raphael. This movement emphasized vivid colors, complex compositions, and detailed realism, while also focusing on themes of nature, literature, and medievalism, significantly influencing the evolution of British painting styles and themes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was founded by artists Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, and John Everett Millais, who sought to challenge the norms of the art establishment in Victorian England.
2. They were known for their meticulous attention to detail and vibrant color palettes, which set them apart from their contemporaries who often used more subdued tones.
3. The Brotherhood's works often featured literary themes, drawing inspiration from poetry and medieval tales, which helped popularize romanticism in British art.
4. Although they faced criticism from established critics and institutions for their unconventional methods, the Pre-Raphaelites eventually gained acceptance and had a lasting impact on future art movements.
5. Their emphasis on emotional expression and connection to nature paved the way for later movements like Symbolism and the Aesthetic Movement.

Review Questions

• How did the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood challenge traditional art standards of their time?
  • The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood challenged traditional art standards by rejecting the Royal Academy's rigid conventions. They sought to revive a more naturalistic approach inspired by early Renaissance art before Raphael. Their works emphasized bright colors, intricate details, and subject matter drawn from nature, literature, and history, thus promoting a new vision for British art that valued emotional depth and individual expression.
• What role did literature play in shaping the works of the Pre-Raphaelite artists?
  • Literature played a significant role in shaping the works of Pre-Raphaelite artists, who often drew inspiration from poetry and medieval stories. They sought to illustrate themes found in literary works, integrating symbolism and narrative into their paintings. This connection to literature not only enriched their visual storytelling but also aligned them with broader cultural movements of romanticism that celebrated imagination and emotion.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood on subsequent artistic movements in Britain.
  • The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's emphasis on beauty, detail, and emotional expression significantly influenced subsequent artistic movements in Britain. Their ideals contributed to the rise of the Aesthetic Movement, which championed 'art for art's sake' and pushed back against utilitarian views of art. Additionally, their focus on nature and literary themes laid groundwork for Symbolism and later Impressionism. The Brotherhood's innovations helped redefine artistic standards in Britain and encouraged future artists to explore deeper emotional connections within their work.

Related terms

Victorian Art: Art produced during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), characterized by a variety of styles and subjects that reflect the complexities of the era, including social changes and industrialization.

Symbolism: An artistic movement that emerged in the late 19th century, emphasizing the use of symbols to express ideas and emotions, often with a focus on the spiritual and the mystical.

Aesthetic Movement: A late 19th-century movement in art and literature that promoted 'art for art's sake,' emphasizing beauty over moral or political messages, which was influenced by the ideals of the Pre-Raphaelites.