Question

Which of the following statements is TRUE about the origin of the Pre-Raphaelite Movement?

• A. It was purely a literary movement from the beginning.
• B. It was started in France and later spread to England.
• C. It began as an artistic movement in mid-nineteenth century England.
• D. It was initiated by Walter Pater and Oscar Wilde.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. It began as an artistic movement in mid-nineteenth century England.

Pre-Raphaelite Movement: Origin and Key Aspects

• The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB) was a group of English painters and poets, founded in 1848 in London.
• It emerged as a reaction against the perceived mediocrity and academic conventions of the Royal Academy of Arts.
• The movement sought to return to the abundant detail, intense colors, and complex compositions found in Italian art before the High Renaissance, particularly the work of artists like Raphael.
• Key founding members included Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, and John Everett Millais.
• They believed that the art taught by the Royal Academy, influenced by Renaissance masters like Raphael, had become stagnant and conventional.
• Their aim was to create art that was true to nature, incorporating meticulous detail and vibrant, unmixed colors applied directly to a wet white ground.
• Notable themes in their work included medieval romances, religious subjects, and literary narratives, often imbued with moral or social commentary.
• The movement had a significant impact on the subsequent development of art in Britain and influenced writers and poets as well, creating a broader cultural phenomenon.
• The PRB published a periodical called 'The Germ' from January to April 1850, which served as a platform for their ideas and writings.
• The movement officially disbanded in 1853, but its influence continued to be felt for decades.