Christina Rosetti Context

Who started the pre-raphaelite brotherhood? 7 men but 3 names

William Hunt, John Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. As well as 4 other men.

What was the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood?

Established in 1849, they were a group of English painted, poets and art critics that sought to portray intense, detailed observations of the world, focused on medievalism

What is medievalism?

refers to a conscious revival and idealization of the art, culture, craftsmanship, and moral values of the Middle Ages as a reaction against modern industrial society and academic art traditions.

In the mid 1800's if you wanted to become a successful artist you needed to belong to…

The Royal Academy of Art

What did the pre-raphaelites want to do?

Paint pictures of religious subjects, legends and myths in a style that reminded people of medieval painters.

Who did many people think was the best painter of all time

Italian painter Raphael, he painted nearly 400 years before the pr's, he liked creating paintings about Jesus' life. Raphael thought these paintings would be very beautiful however the pr's didnt like this and wanted to paint what. Knew

What did the women that the pr's painted often look like?

Very pale skin, long red hair.

What religion were women in Rossetti's family?

Committed high church anglicans

As a teenager, Christina suffered a nervous breakdown and was diagnosed as….

a 'religious maniac'

Rossetti devoted ten years as a…?

Volunteer at st Mary Magdalene's penitentiary for prostitutes and unmarried mothers in Highgate.

What disease did rosetti suffer from?

Graves disease

What is Graves' disease?

A thyroid disorder that marred her appearance and left her life in danger, it took a toll of Rossetti in later years. With loss of beauty becoming a reoccurring theme.

When did Rossetti die?

29th December 1894

In 1843 Rossetti, her sister nd mother began attending a newly established Christ church on…

Albany street in London, this was an active high Anglican Church , and was considered the leading church of the tractarian movement

What was the Tractarian (or Oxford) Movement?

Goal of high church anglicans who wanted to reinstate the 'original church' created in the first few centuries following Jesus christs crucifixion.

What was rossettis personality?

She was reserved and quiet

Whose proposal did she refuse at 17 and why?

James Collinson because he reverted to roman Catholicism

From the early 1860's who was Rossetti in love with?

Charles Cayley

What happened in her relationship with charles Cayley?

She turned down his proposal again due to religion as he was agnostic. But they remained close friends until his death. Suggesting religion only limited her romantic relationships not her social circle

Rossettis third proposal was from who?

Marine painter, John Brett, as she was never in love with him

Why is John Brett significant?

She wrong the poem no thank you john to describe the experience, 'here's friendship for you if you like,but love, no thank you john"

characteristic elements

of Pre-Raphaelite painting such as …. Are reflected in Christina Rossetti's poetry.

realism and symbolism, precise photographic

detail, eroticism

Dante grabriel rossetti often used Christina to model as?

The Virgin Mary