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The Pre-Raphaelites
I am a sucker for Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood painting, especially for its painting of women. The painters themselves tended to be literary in their tastes. Rossetti still a recognized poet, and translator of Dante, in his own right. Consequently the women they portrayed tended to be taken from both literature and mythology. But here is what fascinates me. The models for the female characters portrayed were real, flesh and blood individuals. They tended to be striking in appearance, with always something about them that caught one of the painters attention. With a few exceptions they were common, working class women. In many instances one painter or another would have met them in streets and asked them to model. More than a few become a painter's lover, and at least three of the women married, so to speak, into the brotherhood. Also, at least two of the models became recognized painters in their own right. What is it about the kind of partnerships that developed not to facinate?
One more thing. How odd to think the Brotherhood flourished, and those painters it influenced, at the height of Victorean tastes and morals. Something similar prevailed across the English Channel with the active pursuit of Symbolist painting, equally as evocative. It is enough to suggest a reassessment of the so-called Victorean Age.
Two links. The first to a site showing many paintings and with links leading to more. The second devoted to the individual models themselves, the real individuals behind the literary and mythical portraits.
http://faculty.pittstate.edu/~knichols/lilith.html
http://hubpages.com/hub/Pre-Raphaelite-Women
Tere
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Jul/2/2011, 4:31 pm
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Re: The Pre-Raphaelites
Hey Tere,
I was put in mind of this thread you started many moons ago:
"Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood & Sisterhood"
http://bdelectablemnts.runboard.com/t576
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Jul/6/2011, 9:05 pm
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Re: The Pre-Raphaelites
Thanks, Kat. I remembered starting up a thread somwhere. Just couldn't find it. Feel free to merge the two if you think it logical.
Tere
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Jul/7/2011, 7:35 pm
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Re: The Pre-Raphaelites
No, I think the two threads being separate is fine. I just thought people interested in this thread might be interested in the other as well.
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Jul/8/2011, 1:56 pm
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