The Pre-Raphaelites: Romanticism and the Medieval Revival

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was founded in 1848 by a group of young artists who sought to challenge the academic norms and traditions of British art. They rejected the influence of the Renaissance master Raphael, from whom their name was derived, and instead looked to earlier art, particularly from the Middle Ages and the Early Renaissance, as their source of inspiration. The founding members—Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais, and William Holman Hunt—set out to create works that were both highly detailed and vibrant, with an emphasis on realism and an intense focus on nature and the human condition.

The Brotherhood’s ideals were grounded in a desire for authenticity and a departure from the stiff, formulaic art that was prevalent in the mid-19th century. This rejection of the academic conventions that dominated the Royal Academy of Arts was central to the group’s manifesto. The Pre-Raphaelites sought to infuse their works with a deeper symbolic meaning, drawing from medieval literature, mythology, and religious themes, often invoking vivid imagery from poetry and prose to enrich their paintings.

The group’s style was characterized by sharp attention to detail, rich color, and complex symbolism. They aimed to capture truth in its purest form, rendering the subjects of their paintings with an almost photographic precision. Each piece often conveyed an emotional intensity that was far removed from the more restrained, idealized works of the time. Through this approach, the Brotherhood sought to bring art closer to life and to explore the intricacies of human experience.

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Release date

Audiobook: 27 February 2025