Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood: A clandestine society of Victorian artists, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, or PRB, emerges as more than just a collection of painters and poets. Their movement, shrouded in artistic rebellion and intellectual aspiration, sought to revolutionize the art world by rejecting what they saw as the stale academicism that had followed the Renaissance master Raphael. Were they merely iconoclasts, or did their motives run deeper than a simple rejection of artistic norms?
The seeds of the PRB were sown in 1848, a year of revolutions across Europe. In London, seven young artists, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, and John Everett Millais, formed a secret brotherhood. Their manifestoes, hidden in plain sight through coded initials on their canvases, declared war on convention. Early mentions appear in their personal letters and diaries, offering tantalizing glimpses into their shared vision – a return to the detail, intense colors, and complex compositions of early Italian and Flemish art. But what inspired their almost obsessive focus on the pre-Raphael world?
Over time, the PRB's influence spread, morphing from a fiercely independent movement into a broader aesthetic. John Ruskin, the era's preeminent art critic, initially defended them against accusations of technical ineptitude, inadvertently shaping public perception. Later, figures like William Morris, with his emphasis on craftsmanship and design, built upon their foundation. Yet, with this evolution came divergence. The Brotherhood's initial unity fractured as individual members pursued different paths, some embracing symbolism, others succumbing to the commercial pressures of the art market. Do these diverging paths diminish their collective impact, or highlight the complexity of their vision?
The legacy of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood persists, their paintings adorning museum walls and their romantic sensibilities echoed in contemporary art and design. Their influence pervades depictions of Arthurian legends, Romantic love, and mythical narratives. Their vibrant colors and emphasis on detail are not merely aesthetic choices; they are statements about beauty, truth, and the role of the artist in society. Are we still grappling with the questions they posed about art, beauty, and the nature of progress?