Artworks from the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood

Dante Gabriel Rossetti was one of the three founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, which consisted of a total of seven members who were English painters, poets, and art critics. The Brotherhood was founded in 1848 by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The intention of this group was to reform art by rejecting what they considered to be the ‘mechanistic approach’, a viewpoint that states that the behavior of complex systems, such as individuals, societies, and economies, are determined strictly by the interactions of the parts or factors of which they are composed.

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood believed that the Classical poses and elegant compositions of Raphael in particular had been a corrupting influence on the academic teaching of art. They wanted art to return to the abundant detail, intense colors, and complex compositions. This Brotherhood also accepted the idea of history painting, and the imitation of nature, as central to the purpose of art. In order to promote their form of art and promote their ideas, they created a distinct name for it and published it in a periodical called The Germ. Throughout this exhibition, it will explore the many artworks that were promoted by the artists of the Brotherhood.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Lady Lilith, 1867, watercolor and gouache, 08.162.1

In this painting, Rossetti depicts a self-absorbed nineteenth century female combing her long, curly red hair. This female is surrounded by many different types of flowers and a cluster of nature that Rossetti is using to symbolize love, especially the single red rose sitting alone next to the girl. Rossetti's wife is the depicted figure in this painting, as she was the subject for many other paintings done by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

John Everett Millais, Ophelia, 1851-1852, oil paint on canvas, Tate Collection

In this painting, Millais depicts the death of Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet, occurring after the murder of her father, causing her to be overwhelmed by grief. Ophelia is holding a poppy flower, symbolizing something different than what was symbolized in Lady Lilith, death rather than love. The daisies and the pansies that she is also holding symbolize the ideas of innocence and thoughts. 

John Everett Millais, Christ in the House of His Parents, 1849-1850, oil paint on canvas, Tate Collection

It is taught that Millais is foreshadowing Christ's crucifixion, using the wood, the nails, the cut in Christ's hand, and the blood on his foot as symbols of his crucifixion, while basing this painting in a real carpenter shop. After this painting of Christ went public, the press did not like the way Millais depicted the holy family because they were shown as being ordinary. 

William Holman Hunt, Rienzi, 1849, oil paint on canvas, The National Gallery

The center of Hunt's inspiration for this painting was the death of Rienzi's younger brother. The emphasis on the emotional importance of the moment is evident as Hunt tries to avoid the reality behind the painting. The depiction by Hunt of the historical scene pushes the viewer to acknowledge the emotional moment of the realism painting. This painting was the first of Hunt's works to 'PRB', acknowledging the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, on the canvas.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Girlhood of Mary Virgin, 1848-1849, oil paint on canvas, The Tate

As a young girl, the Virgin Mary is displayed in the painting working on an embroidery with her mother, while her father is shown working outside. There is a lot of symbolism shown in this painting, beginning with the palm branch and thorn lying on the floor, referring to Christ's passion. The lilies represent the Virgin Mary's purity, while the dove represents the Holy Spirit. This painting was the first of Rossetti's works to have 'PRB' inscribed on the canvas, referencing the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

John Everett Millais, Isabella, 1849, oil paint on canvas, Walker Art Gallery Collection

This painting was one of the first paintings done in the Pre-Raphaelite style, shortly after the Brotherhood was founded. The subject, Isabella, was taken from a poem written by John Keats. This poem tells the story of Isabella, a sister of wealthy merchants, and a poor apprentice named Lorenzo. This painting takes place towards the end of the story as Millais symbolizes in the painting the tragedy that took place in the poem.