The Illustrated Letters and Diaries of the Pre-Raphaelites

The Illustrated Letters

by Jan Marsh (compiler)

The story of how a group of precocious young artists shook up the British art establishment, told through their works, letters and diaries.

An illustrated history of the linked lives and loves of a group of supremely talented artists of late Victorian Britain through their passionate writings. It features the painters, poets, critics and Ford Madox Brown, Edward Burne-Jones, Fanny Cornforth, William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, William and Janey Morris, Christina, Dante Gabriel, and William Rossetti, John Ruskin, William Bell Scott and Lizzie Siddal.

The artistic aspirations and achievements of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood are revealed alongside the interwoven dramas of their personal lives, in letters, diaries and reminiscences, while their genius is displayed in vivid paintings, drawings, designs and poems.

The Pre-Raphaelites was a charmed circles of love, friendship and art. Within an ever-changing flow of affections, and intimacies as richly patterned as a tapestry, they worked together as companions, lovers and partners. They shared tragedy as well as happiness, critical hostility as well as success, even the griefs of infidelity and discord.

These creative partnerships, which also created the firm William Morris and Co, revitalised Victorian art and design.

The new edition publishes in time for the start of the Burne Jones Exhibition at Tate Britain, starting in October 18. It is a vital book in understanding the Pre-Raphaelite art, which remains as popular and moving as ever.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Art History

160 pages, Hardcover

Published October 2, 2018

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is beautiful and provides context to the works associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement. The one thing I didn't like much is that the book is chock-full of typos.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to the intimate world of the Pre-Raphaelites, and I enjoyed immensely the use of primary sources such as letters, poems, and journal entries. In the end, I had a much better understanding of the personalities of each important figure through Marsh’s vivid descriptions and original research. I also appreciated the fact that she highlighted biographical details pertaining to the lives of Elisabeth Siddal, Effie Gray, and Jane Morris, the Pre-Raphaelite muses. My only criticism is that there are many typos throughout the book which could be easily rectified in a newer edition.

[Cheryl Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is, essentially, a Pre-Raphaelite snack-pack and I enjoyed it very much.

[Mary Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated this short and splashy book of the Pre-Raphaelites. The pictures are gorgeous and the text is informative. I definitely recommend this excellent book for any lover of the Pre-Raphaelites.