Comments on: Pre-Raphaelite Art

By: Kevin P. Edgecomb

Kevin P. Edgecomb — Fri, 14 May 2010 04:09:55 +0000

I think you’re especially correct in the case of Dante Rossetti, Vlad. There’s no way to avoid the unsavory background of so much that lay behind such a beautiful facade as that of the work of the Pre-Raphaelites. Still, the “idea” of their work was sound, and the execution was appropriate.

For my part, I fiind their decorative art (not the paintings) to be a much better realization of the ideal of Pre-Raphaelites than their painting, which is often too heavy-handed, if evocative. As you mention, the evocations are often (even usually) unsavory.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Thu, 13 May 2010 07:07:00 +0000

But one can’t help being disquieted by the overarching eroticism, albeit “spiritualized” and “estheticized”, that pervades the Pre-raphaelite art, the secret (maybe unconscious) worship of Venus “the Mother of harlots and abominations of the earth”. It was the font of inspiration for the “decadent” art of the 19th century “fin de siecle” (e.g. Gustav Klimt and Sezession, D’Anunnzio). It was also the inspiration for the lurid “Sophiology” of Vladimir Soloviov and his scions Florensky, Bulgakov, Berdiaev).

By: Kevin P. Edgecomb

Kevin P. Edgecomb — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:32:23 +0000

You’ve got it right, David. For them, that beautiful world did exist, at least in their own circle, judging from these exquisite bits of jewelry and the fantastically beautiful embroidered prayer book covers. The English used to be renowned throughout Europe for their embroidery. Now they’re known for being public drunks. It’s a sad devolution.

We can recover such things, but the living tradition, once lost, requires so much more work to reinvigorate. At least these fine examples survive. We need more real, authentic, handcrafted beauty in our lives, and not just to have it, but to create it. That in itself is a kind of prayer, the creation of beautiful things, however small, however humble.

By: David aka Justin

David aka Justin — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:03:00 +0000

The Pre-Raphaelites depicted the world as it existed in the memory of people’s hearts, that particular reflection of the world that inspires and ennobles. It doesn’t matter if that world literally existed- it *should* have existed, and it *should* exist again. But a world of such beauty won’t exist *unless I live like it.*

“Only beasts and demons could despise such beauty, and barbarians who ride the former and are ridden by the latter. ”

I love this.

By: Kevin P. Edgecomb

Kevin P. Edgecomb — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:39:40 +0000

You’re very welcome, Margaret! I’m very glad you enjoyed the link. I only ran across it myself a few minutes before posting it. I can’t get enough of the Pre-Raphaelite stuff, really. There’s just something about it.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:40:52 +0000

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I learned metalwork and embroidery, my two great loves, because of the Pre-Raphaelites and the Arts & Crafts Movement (which I find hard to separate) and this site is a treasure. Apparently Rossetti’s Annunication was considered shocking in its day because the Virgin is depicted on her bed!

By: Kevin P. Edgecomb

Kevin P. Edgecomb — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:55:48 +0000

Thanks, Aaron! I fixed it. I’d pasted the name in for the url in the a tag. Duh. Too much excitement….