Prerrafaelitas [Hardcover]

Founded in 1848 as asecret society, thePre-Raphaelitesrejected classical ideals and the dominant artistic genre painting of their era for what they saw as a morespiritual, sincere, and naturalisticapproach. Founded byWilliam Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, they evolved into a seven-member brotherhood that included poets and critics as well as painters.

Moving away from the classical compositions exemplified by Raphael (hence the groups name), the Pre-Raphaelites rather turned tomedieval cultureand thejewel-like colors of Quattrocento artfor inspiration. Their principal themes were initially religious, but also included subjects fromliterature and poetry, as exemplified by Sir John Everett Millaiss famousOphelia,drawn from Shakespeare'sHamlet.Inspired by the theories of John Ruskin, they were also committed to theclose study of nature.

This book presents key works from the Pre-Raphaelite group to introduce their reactionary principles, their dazzling colors, their interest inlove, death, and nature, and their extensive influence on latter-day Symbolism and beyond.

BAGet to know the Pre-Raphaelites, an undercover brotherhood of poets, painters, and critics, often regarded as Britains first modern art movement. With key works by leading artists, this book explores the groups rejection of Classical beauty ideals, and its reactionary immersion in nature, medieval culture, and literary emblems of love and death.