1/2 The Pre-Raphaelites (Ep1)

Summary

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB) was a revolutionary group of 19th-century artists who challenged the conventions of British art. Founded in 1848 by John Everett Millais, William Holman Hunt, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, they rejected idealized, formulaic art in favor of realism and moral significance. Their works, often drawn from literature and biblical themes, shocked the public with their raw depictions of sacred subjects. Audacious in both style and subject matter, the PRB’s detailed realism and emotional depth transformed art and left an enduring legacy in both visual art and literature.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB) was a radical art movement that emerged in the mid-19th century, aiming to challenge the conventional norms of British art.
• 😀 Founded in 1848 by John Everett Millais, William Holman Hunt, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the Brotherhood rejected the formal teachings of the Royal Academy, striving for a return to the art of the early Renaissance, before Raphael.
• 😀 The PRB's first paintings were controversial for their bold realism and moral significance, often depicting sacred or historical themes in a stark, unidealized way.
• 😀 Millais' painting 'Christ in the House of His Parents' (1850) caused outrage for its realistic portrayal of Christ and his family in a humble, almost grotesque manner, breaking from traditional depictions of religious figures.
• 😀 The PRB rejected the established conventions of academic art, including idealized compositions and conventional lighting, aiming instead for a more lifelike and unembellished representation of subjects.
• 😀 Their choice of subjects was often drawn from literature, poetry, and the Bible, with an emphasis on moral and meaningful content rather than superficial beauty.
• 😀 Millais' 'Christ in the House of His Parents' was criticized for its 'blasphemous' treatment of religious themes, with critics accusing him of making sacred figures appear too mundane or even ugly.
• 😀 The Brotherhood's art was technically advanced, with precise attention to detail, such as Millais' lifelike rendering of textures like fur and skin, which was unprecedented for the time.
• 😀 The PRB's approach to space and composition was revolutionary, with Hunt's 'The Awakening Conscience' (1853) using forward positioning of figures to create an intimate, modern feel, diverging from traditional academic methods.
• 😀 The PRB's influence extended beyond painting to literature and poetry, with Rossetti, a poet as well as a painter, contributing to the group's philosophy of bringing life and imagination to historical and biblical subjects.

Q & A

What was the primary aim of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB)?

The primary aim of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was to reject the academic conventions of British art in the 19th century. They sought to create a more radical, lifelike art that depicted moral and significant subjects, often drawn from literature and the Bible, in a way that was highly detailed and realistic.

How did the PRB differ from the academic art of their time?

The PRB differed from academic art by rejecting the idealized, formulaic compositions typically taught at the Royal Academy. Instead of following conventions like the use of pyramidal composition and smooth, idealized figures, they focused on realistic depictions of people and settings, often including gritty details and natural imperfections.

What was the public reaction to John Everett Millais' painting 'Christ in the House of His Parents'?

The public reaction to Millais' 'Christ in the House of His Parents' was one of shock and outrage. The painting's realistic depiction of Christ as a street urchin, with unidealized features and dirty hands, was considered disrespectful by many, including prominent figures like Charles Dickens, who condemned it in his magazine.

How did the PRB challenge the portrayal of sacred subjects in art?

The PRB challenged traditional portrayals of sacred subjects by depicting them in a raw, unidealized manner. For example, in Millais' 'Christ in the House of His Parents,' Christ is shown with realistic features like sunburned hands and dirty feet, rather than the idealized, divine representation common in religious art of the time.

What specific elements of Millais' painting 'Christ in the House of His Parents' were considered audacious?

The audacity of Millais' 'Christ in the House of His Parents' lay in its composition and the unflinching realism. The painting broke academic rules by presenting the holy family in an everyday, almost mundane setting, with attention to gritty details like veins in hands, dirty nails, and the raw, unpolished nature of the figures.

What was the relationship between the PRB and the Royal Academy?

The relationship between the PRB and the Royal Academy was strained. The PRB members were dissatisfied with the Academy's teachings, which they considered predictable and boring. They wanted to create a new form of art that was more grounded in reality and infused with moral significance, rejecting the Academy's conventions.

What role did literature play in the work of the PRB?

Literature played a significant role in the work of the PRB. They were inspired by literature and poetry as much as by visual art. Their paintings often depicted moral or literary subjects, and they aimed to create works that were intellectually stimulating and connected to broader cultural and moral questions.

Why did the PRB place such a focus on technical detail in their works?

The PRB placed a strong focus on technical detail to ensure that their works were as lifelike and accurate as possible. This commitment to detail was a way of rejecting the more abstract, loose styles favored by the Royal Academy, and it aimed to evoke a more intense emotional response from the viewer by making scenes appear real and tangible.

What was the significance of Lizzy Siddal to the PRB?

Lizzy Siddal was an important model and muse for the PRB. She posed for many of their paintings, becoming an iconic figure in their works. Siddal's modeling career with the PRB began when she was spotted by Walter Deverell, and she quickly became a beloved and frequent presence in their artistic circle.

How did the PRB influence later generations of artists?

The PRB's radical approach to art, with its focus on realism, detailed technical skill, and moral or literary themes, had a lasting influence on later generations of artists. They broke away from traditional academic painting and paved the way for more modern forms of artistic expression, inspiring future movements that prioritized authenticity and emotional depth in art.