An Intro:The Pre-Raphealite Brotherhood was a secret society founded in 1849 by students dissatisfied with the Academic Art movement. Members of the Brotherhood included artists ranging from painters to poets known for defying the current conventions of art. Instead they turned to the Middle Ages and the Early Renaissance, or a time “before Raphael,” for inspiration. They sought to create and reflect truth in their works, instead of an imposed beauty. They wanted to revive both the spiritual and moral sides of art. The subjects of these art pieces were often from famous literature, such as the Bible and Shakespearean works. A second generation of Pre-Raphealites emerged in the late 1850s. Although they held many of the same characteristics, their subject matter shifted to medieval poetry and legend. These younger artists also turned towards the more aesthetic nature of decorative art. Although the Pre-Raphealite Brotherhood was relatively short-lived, it had a profound effect on Western art.
General Characteristics: bright colors, sharp lighting, precise, accurate details, use of symbols, storytelling
