The Pre-Raphaelite movement, initiated by artists like D.G. Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, and John Everett Millais in 1848, sought to challenge Victorian materialism and classical art conventions through earnest, nature-focused works. This brotherhood emphasized individual responsibility in artistic expression and aimed for moral reform and artistic renewal, drawing inspiration from medieval culture and romanticism. Their art is characterized by detailed imagery, sincere themes, and a focus on genuine emotional expression.

1. The Pre-Raphaelite
Movement
Dr. Neelam Mulchandani

2. The origin
of the
name pre-
Raphaelite
• The Pre-Raphaelites thought
that Raphael had produced
technically perfect religious
pictures but with little
spiritual feelings
• On the contrary they
admired the art and painters
before Raphael

3. Nature of
the
Movement
• In art it refers to Pre-Raphaelite
brotherhood a group of Avant
grade painters associated with
Art critic John Ruskin
• In literature it refers to the poets
who were connected with these
artists and were painters as well
as poets
• They reacted against the
Victorian materialism and Neo-
classical conventions of
Academic art by producing
earnest, quasi-religious works

4. History
• The Pre-Raphaelite
poetry was
established in 1848 by
– D G Rossetti
– William Holman
Hunt
– John Everett
Millais

5. Doctrines of the Brotherhood
To have genuine ideas to
express
To study Nature attentively,
so as to know how to
express them
To sympathize with what is
direct hearfelt in Art as
opposed to what is
conventional and self
parodying and learnt by rote
To produce thoroughly good
pictures and statues

6. Characteristics
Minute description of detail
Strong visual imagery
Word imagery
Medievalism
True to Nature
Symbolic meaning associated with common objects or situations
Subject matter of a noble, religious and moralizing nature

7. • The principles of the movement
were deliberately non-dogmatic,
since the brotherhood wished to
emphasize the personal
responsibility of the individual
artists to determine their won
ideas and methods of depiction
• Strove to transmit a message of
artistic renewal and moral
reform by imbuing their art with
seriousness, sincerity and truth
to nature
• Influenced by Romanticism
• Fascinated by Medieval culture
believing it to possess a spiritual
and creative integrity that has
been lost in later eras
Characteristics

8. Thank you