Pre-Raphaelites: The Begining

How did this fascinating art movement begin?

  

     The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (also known as the Pre-Rap   haelites) was a group of English painters, poets, and critics, founded in 1848 by William Holmes Hunt, John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The three founders were soon joined by William Michael Rossetti, James Collinson, Frederic George Stephens, andThomas Wollner,  to form a seven-member "brotherhood". 

The group's intention was to reform art by rejecting what they considered to be the mechanical approach of painting.f They believed that the classical poses and elegant compositions of Raphael in particular had been a corrupting influence on the academical  teaching of art. Hence the name: Pre-Raphaelite.   The group wanted to return to the abundant detail, intense colorrs, and difficult examples of Italian and Flemish art.

   The Pre-Raphaelites have been considered the first avant-garde movement in art, though they have also been denied that status. ,  Pre-Raphaelites undoubtedly defined themselves as a reform-movement, created a distinct name for their form of art, and published a periodical, The Germ to promote their ideas. The Germrefers to the Pre-Raphaelite belief in the importance of nature (a germ is a seed) and of the human imagination, as implied by the phrase "the germ of an idea". It was a periodical published magazine that let the Brotherhood express their views on art, poetry and nature. It was not a success, only existing for four issues between January and April 1850.  It has also been noted that the Pre-Rahaelitism "cannot be defined; it was too various." (1) 

Dante Rossetti 

Dante Rossetti, one of the most famous of the Brotherhood, whose eccentric, loves, and the burying of his poems with his deceased wife Lizzie Sidal, to then deciding he needed them to publish. He is of course the brother of the very famous poet sister, Christiana Rossetti.
    William Micheal Rossetti also joined the Brotherhood after his brother and often spotlighted his poetic genius as well as his critical essays which became his fame. He is known as one of the best critics of England at this time.  He published many essays in the periodical,  The Germ.

William Micheal Rossetti

"For the rest of his life he comforted himself … dwelling on the past, not mournfully or regretfully, but actively (in keeping with his character) as family historian and For the rest of his life he comforted himself … dwelling on the past, not mournfully or regretfully, but actively (in keeping with his character) as family historian and archivist" A lovely example of William Micheal Rossetti about his brother Dante Rossetti.  John William Holmes Hunt, also a founding member (Whose self-Portrait is shown above right.) Hunt's paintings were notable for their great attention to detail, vivid color and many beautiful signs of symbolism. These features were influenced by the writings of John Ruskin  and Thomas Caryle.

      John Everett Millais created dense and elaborate pictorial surfaces based on the integration of naturalistic elements. This approach has been described as a kind of "pictorial eco-system". He also met, Hunt, and Dante at the Royal Academy Of Art, where they then started the "PRB" and grouped together to defy the art they so began to despise, and went on the hunt for a better brand of art and poetry. 

John Ruskin

    John Ruskin (shown Right) was one of two that helped sponsor the Pre-Raphaelites, and help them to get a bit of notice in the 1850's. We became great friends with the founders, even setting up exhibits, and also buying paintings to also help them financially. They were as many are "starving artists. He greatly took to Dante Rossetti, with leadership, and friendship. He is one of the most pronounced art critics of his time. He writings and essays were amongst the most regarded and respected of his time.  "All great art is the work of the whole living creature, body and soul, and chiefly of the soul." (2)

 Thomas Carlyle was also a man who helped influence the Pre-Raphaelites. He a Scottish satirical writer,essayist historian and teacher during the Victorian Era. He was brought up to be a Calvinist preacher, but religion and science became a hard line to distinguish. He is also a highly praised writer who helped to influence Johnathan Swift. " Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art."

Raphael's 'School Of Athens'

Raphael, was a very productive artist in Florence, Italy. He died a a fairly young age, of 37. He is the major artist that the Brotherhood did not like to study and hated the Royal Academy Of Arts having them study this man they thought they could out due by focusing on the Naturalism and the Romantic way they believed art should focus on. They too were very religious in their works and symbolism, but used the Medieval myths, the Shakespeare plays. Especially Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.  The Pre-Raphaelites became named so to surpass the art of the school they became to despise. A feat they in their own way changed the art world as they new it. Even for the moment.

John William Waterhouse 'Ophelia'

1. Hilton, Timothy (1970). The Pre-Raphaelites, p. 46. Oxford University Press. 2. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_ruskin.html#ixzz1InSWUihG