The Pre-Raphaelites are known for their depiction of the female form, often in romantic and epic settings. Mainstream Victorian art portrayed religious and classical figures as irreproachable and divine. In this curation we will look at how the Pre-Raphaelites humanised their subjects, taking them from the divine to an earthly beauty.
Another change the Pre-Raphaelites ushered in was the depiction of epic events through smaller moments. In such uncertain times, we can turn to the Pre-Raphaelites for beautified escapism intertwined with relatable ennui. In this collection we will look at some of the quieter moments in Pre-Raphaelite art, often finding our heroines in a moment of reflection or even boredom.
By Molly Fennelly, Volunteer
Study for 'Washing Hands' 1865
Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882)
Graphite on paper
H 47 x W 34.9 cm
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Elizabeth Eleanor Siddal (1829–1862)
Pen & ink, brown wash & black wash over graphite on paper
H 14.9 x W 11.5 cm
The Fitzwilliam Museum
John Everett Millais (1829–1896)
Oil on millboard
H 22.5 x W 20.5 cm
National Trust, Wightwick Manor
Wandering Thoughts c.1855
John Everett Millais (1829–1896)
Oil on canvas
H 35.2 x W 24.9 cm
Manchester Art Gallery
The Gilded Cage probably 1901–1902
Evelyn De Morgan (1855–1919)
Oil on canvas
H 910 x W 108.7 cm
De Morgan Collection
.jpg)