Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB) – Key Concepts

Flashcards cover the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's goals, influences, techniques, key figures, notable works, and cultural context as described in the notes.

What group aimed to reform English art by rejecting the Royal Academy and Renaissance norms in the mid-19th century?

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB).

What does 'Pre-Raphaelite' mean in relation to art history?

Literally 'before Raphael'—a return to earlier styles before the High Renaissance, looking to medieval and early Renaissance sources.

What subjects and aims characterized Pre-Raphaelite painting?

Medieval and 15th-century Northern/Italian Renaissance influences, biblical and literary narratives, extreme attention to detail, and symbolism; rejection of Renaissance perspective and academic rules.

How did PRB painting practice differ from academic norms in terms of technique and perspective?

They rejected academic conventions, finished many works outside (en plein air), and emphasized natural lighting and meticulous detail while discarding traditional Renaissance perspective.

Who were common models for PRB artists, and why?

Working-class and ordinary people; models like Jane Burden (Jane Morris) were used because middle-class women could not model publicly, shaping a more 'authentic' look.

Which 15th-century painter’s work influenced the PRB’s realism and naturalism, and what is a notable painting by him?

Jan van Eyck; Arnolfini Portrait, purchased by the National Gallery (c. 1848), illustrating fidelity to nature and detail.

Who was Jane Morris (Jane Burden) in the PRB context?

A working-class woman discovered in Oxford who became Rossetti’s muse and partner, shaping many PRB works.

Which famous painting depicts Ophelia and who was the notable model associated with its creation?

Ophelia (Millais, 1851–52); model Elizabeth Siddal (Rossetti’s wife).

What is the narrative behind 'Isabella and the Pot of Basil' and which PRB artist produced a version of it?

A Decameron/Boccaccio-inspired tale of Isabella and her lover Lorenzo; painted by William Holman Hunt (illustrative of PRB storytelling).

What is 'Madonna della Finestra' and how does it relate to Jane Morris and Beatrice?

A Rossetti painting featuring Jane Morris as a Beatrice-like figure seen at a window; connects to Dante’s Beatrice and the PRB’s mythic female ideal.

Who was Dante Gabriel Rossetti within the PRB, and what role did he play?

One of the founding members and the driving force behind the PRB, known for portraying Jane Morris and developing the group’s stylistic program.

Who is Jan Marsh and what is her significance to Rossetti and Jane Morris?

A nineteenth-century art historian who wrote biographies of Rossetti and Jane Morris and helped contextualize and promote their work (e.g., in exhibitions).

What does the term 'femme fatale' refer to in this period, and how is it connected to PRB art?

A seductive, dangerous woman; used to describe certain late-19th-century figures in PRB-influenced works (e.g., Rossetti’s depictions, sometimes linked to the era’s fascination with female agency and danger).

What satirical reference ties the Aesthetic Movement to PRB-era culture, and which art figure is it associated with?

The 'six mark teapot' cartoon satirizing the Aesthetic Movement; the figure in the satire is depicted with Jane Morris as a muse.

How did the Pre-Raphaelites view the role of nature in art, as reflected in their critique of Raphael and Renaissance painting?

They favored direct observation of nature, naturalistic lighting, and detailed craftsmanship over idealized or formulaic Renaissance compositions.