The Pre-Raphaelites: Romance and Realism (Abrams Discoveries) Review

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(More customer reviews)were so intimately linked."
Do you have a poet's heart? Or do you consider yourself a hopeless romantic? Maybe you love great quotes and succinct information in a easy to carry and store, thin paperback? Perhaps you love gorgeous, contrasting colors full of light and shadows in passionately rendered yet solemn but oh so expressive and thought-provoking symbolism with an occasional illusionist effect (as in Waterhouse's "The Lady of Shallot" and Millias' "Ophelia") in your art then welcome to the Pre-Raphaelite movement! There is plenty of all of the above and more included in the wonderful, lightweight, colorful, informative art book!
This group (P. R. B. aka Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood) was dominated by three artists: John Everett Millias (1829-96), William Holman Hunt (1828-1910) and Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-82.) "The Pre-Raphelites wanted to represent modern life realistically, whether they approved or disapproved of it." Hmmm. Isn't that something that art must consist of to Be Art?!
"Go to Nature in all singleness of heart, and walk with her laboriously and trustingly, having no other thought but how best to penetrate her meaning, and remember her instruction, rejecting nothing, selecting nothing and scorning nothing; believing all things to be right and good, and rejoicing always in the truth."
John Ruskin 'Modern Painters', Vol 1, 1843. [Love it! I'll take a bottle of wine from 1843 please!]
I believe that an artist has a gift from God. Combined with free will, it becomes a reflection of the portion of God in him/her that wants and desires to be expressed, all through the artist's unique views from the heart. The work of an artist communicates, often on a much more proficient and profound level than words can ever say; the artist speaks without words and the viewer has the honor of deciding on his/her own interpretation, application and inspiration to his/her life--THIS is why I Love Art so much. Truly Art is one of the highest forms of sharing. So if you are an artist, past or present, thank you and Godspeed. o8E I would love to be an artist someday. And I see myself giving it a go again someday, if just as a hobby. Perhaps someday I'll be found by a kindred spirit working on a canvas on the beach while taking breaks doing Tai Chi and yoga. ^_^
In closing, I believe the key to getting the most from art is to look at it with an open mind and ponder the message that enters your heart. The Pre-Raphaelites do just that, touch my heart. And I enjoy pondering with an open mind!
"I mean by a picture a beautiful, romantic dream of something that never was, never will be--in a light better than any other light that ever shone--in a land no one can define or remember, only desire."
Edward Burne-Jones, head of the second generation of Pre-Raphaelites, along with Morris. [Wow, I really love this quote. The quotes and illustrations of paintings alone are worth the price of this book. Highly recommended!]
Some of the plates for your information as well as some of my favorites: (I love all of them but *** is the highest)
The Eve of St. Agnes (1848 Arthur Hughes)
Italia and Germania (1828 by Johann Friedrich Overbeck)
The Study of Gneiss Rock at Glenfinlas* (1853 John Ruskin)
The Girlhood of Mary Virgin (1848-9 Rossetti)
Ecce Ancilla Domini!** (1850 Rossetti)
Covenant Thoughts (1850-1 Millias)
Ferdinand Lured by Ariel (1849-59 Millias)
The Hireling Shepherd (1851-2 Hunt)
Claudio and Isabella** (1850-3 Hunt)
Ophelia**1/2 (Millias)
The Awakening Conscience* (1853-4 Hunt)
April Love** (1855 John Ruskin)
The Light of the World* (1851-3 Hunt)
Monna Vanna* (1866 Rossetti)
The Blind Girl*** (Millias--a woman with young child as the woman's eyes are closed and the child looks back to see a double rainbow! Deja'vu! I wouldn't have titled the painting that...)
Prospertine** (cover pix 1873-4 Rossetti)
The Beguiling of Merlin** (1870-4 Burne-Jones)
Phyllis and Demophoon* (Burne-Jones)
The Golden Stairs* (1876-80 Burne-Jones)
The Doom Fulfilled* (1884-5 Burne-Jones)
The Baleful Head** (1886-7 Burne-Jones)
Crown of Glory* (1896 Evelyn de Morgan)
The Lady of Shalott*** (1894 John William Waterhouse)

Soar!

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This study of Pre-Raphaelite painters and poets reveals a style-derived from the idealized view of nature in the early Italian Renaissance-steeped in mythology and literary allusion and very popular today with lovers of romantic art and poetry.125 illustrations, 95 in full color, 5 x 7"

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