The Pre-Raphaelite Language of Flowers

The Pre-Raphaelite movement was influenced by a rejection of academic artistic conventions and a longing for the aesthetic simplicity and moral sincerity of medieval and early Renaissance art, which coincided with a Victorian obsession with botany, gardening, and flower arranging. This book examines the greatest of these works, including portraits of Hamlet's Ophelia, the Virgin Mary, and figures from Greek mythology and medieval lore, with full-page reproductions and engaging text. It is the perfect gift for lovers of flowers and fans of romantic Victorian art.

Format: Hardback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 12 March 2024
Publisher: Prestel

The Pre-Raphaelite movement, a short-lived but influential artistic movement of the 19th century, was characterized by a rejection of academic artistic conventions and a longing for the aesthetic simplicity and moral sincerity of medieval and early Renaissance art. However, it also coincided with a Victorian obsession with botany, gardening, and flower arranging, which led to the incorporation of floral symbols into the works of painters such as Rosetti, Millais, and Hughes. This exquisite collection of paintings, titled "The Pre-Raphaelite Focus on the Natural World Intersected with the Victorian Passion for All Things Botanical," examines the greatest of these works, including portraits of Hamlet's Ophelia, the Virgin Mary, and figures from Greek mythology and medieval lore. Each entry features a full-page reproduction of the painting, accompanied by smaller details and an engaging text that offers fascinating background and contextual clues to deepen readers' appreciation of the Pre-Raphaelite language. As lush and colorful as a late summer bouquet, this book is the perfect gift for lovers of flowers as well as for fans of romantic Victorian art.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 171 x 224 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783791377353