PreRaphaelites

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was a group of English painters and poets founded in 1848. Members included William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Michael Rossetti, James Collinson, Frederic George Stephens, and Thomas Woolner. They sought to reform art by rejecting the conventions of the Royal Academy, which they believed had been corrupted by the influence of the Renaissance painter Raphael. Instead, they advocated a return to the detailed observation and intense colors characteristic of Quattrocento Italian art and Flemish painting before Raphael.

The Brotherhood's early work was characterized by a commitment to depicting subjects from nature with meticulous realism. They also drew inspiration from medieval literature, Arthurian legends, and the Bible, often portraying dramatic or moralistic themes. Their use of vibrant, unmixed colors and their tendency to paint outdoors, "en plein air," were distinctive features. The group published a journal called The Germ, which provided a platform for their ideas and poetry.

The Pre-Raphaelite movement initially faced criticism for its perceived strangeness and departure from academic standards. However, over time, their innovative approach and distinctive style gained recognition. The Brotherhood officially disbanded in 1853, but its influence continued, particularly through the work of key members like Rossetti and Hunt, and the subsequent generation of artists associated with the movement, sometimes referred to as the second generation of Pre-Raphaelites. Their emphasis on symbolism, allegory, and aesthetic beauty profoundly impacted the development of art in the Victorian era and beyond.