During the same period that the Realists formed in Paris, a collection of English artists and literary geniuses initialized a society. Their nostalgia for the past and negative thoughts on industrialization affected the course of art forever. The group looked upon a time before the painter Raphael, naming themselves the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood. The group was extremely influenced by their thoughts on the developmental aspects of society, believing that art has taken a turn for the worst since the period of Raphael at the beginning of the 16th century. They had beliefs that the classical forms held and emphasized by Raphael made art synthetic and protested to the way that he was thought of as a master painter. Instead of the art styles present during the 1850s, the group followed the techniques of artists from the Early Renaissance, such as Botticelli, which centered on detail and color values. Because they did have individuals who had literary practices, some of their work includes scenes from classic stories, such as Hamlet. The Pre-Raphaelites raised objections to the influence of Sir Joshua Reynolds, who founded the English Academy of Arts. Their nickname for him was “Sir Sloshua” because of their beliefs that his works were messy, sloshy, and didn’t hold the antiquity that was vital for art. The group was conscientious, and their art seemed to stand out. This was done by painting the canvas white before the application of color. It was believed that artistic creation should be as close to nature as possible. The thoughts that Raphael ruined the way art was instructed were a major staple for the group. All the Pre-Raphaelites signed their work PRB, better known as Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Although they were judged by many, they were admired by some, including the art critic John Ruskin. Around five years after they were founded, the Pre-Raphaelites broke up and went their separate ways. After the disintegration, Dante Gabriel Rossetti was still described as part of the group and the name lingered for later artists, such as Edward Burne-Jones. Through their work, they influenced art movements, such as Symbolism. Even though they didn’t have the best reputation, the Pre-Raphaelites influenced art forever and will continue to affect artists around the world.
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