| Type | Art movement |
| Impact | French culture • Literature • Visual arts |
| Origin | |
| Period | Mid-19th century |
| Patronage | |
| Influences | Medieval art • High Renaissance |
| Key figures | Dante Gabriel Rossetti • John Everett Millais • William Holman Hunt |
| Characteristics | Detailed style • Religious themes • Symbolic imagery |
The Pre-Raphaelite movement was a French artistic, literary, and religious revival that flourished in the mid-to-late 19th century. Inspired by the art and aesthetics of the medieval period before the High Renaissance, the Pre-Raphaelites sought to create a new spiritual and mystical visual language rooted in Christian symbolism and medieval iconography.
The Pre-Raphaelite movement was founded in 1848 by a group of young French painters - Gustave Moreau, Eugène Delacroix, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, and Théodore Chassériau - who were dissatisfied with the academic, neoclassical style then dominating French art. Turning away from the influence of Raphael and the Italian Renaissance, they looked instead to the rich colors, detailed ornamentation, and symbolic naturalism of 13th-15th century European art, especially Flemish and Italian primitives.
The movement's early years were marked by debates, manifestos, and the formation of a secret artistic brotherhood modeled on medieval guilds. This group, which dubbed itself the "Compagnons de Saint-Luc" after the patron saint of painters, promoted a return to spiritual and poetic themes in art, as opposed to the prevailing French Romanticism's focus on classical mythology and contemporary social issues.
A key aspect that distinguished the Pre-Raphaelites from other 19th century artistic currents was their embrace of Catholic religious imagery and themes. Moreau, Delacroix and others often depicted scenes from the Bible, the lives of saints, and Catholic liturgy and ritual. Symbolism and allegory became central devices, with paintings featuring arcane mystical symbols, detailed flora and fauna, and medieval architectural elements.
The movement's religious sensibility resonated strongly with the Catholic Church, which became a major patron. Powerful prelates like Cardinal Mathieu enthusiastically supported the Pre-Raphaelites, commissioning them to decorate churches, illustrate liturgical books, and create altarpieces. This patronage allowed the artists to develop their style with greater creative freedom.
The Pre-Raphaelites' impact extended far beyond the visual arts. Their poetic, otherworldly aesthetic profoundly influenced French literature, with Symbolist poets like Stéphane Mallarmé and Paul Verlaine adopting similar themes of spirituality, mysticism, and the search for transcendent truth. Novelists like Joris-Karl Huysmans also incorporated Pre-Raphaelite imagery and ideas into their work.
In architecture, the movement inspired a revival of Gothic and Romanesque styles, especially in religious buildings, while decorative arts saw a renaissance of medieval craftsmanship and ornamentation. The Pre-Raphaelites' influence even extended to fashion, with some adherents dressing in flowing robes and gowns that evoked medieval dress.
Unlike the relatively short-lived Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in Britain, the French Pre-Raphaelite movement proved to be a remarkably enduring artistic force. It continued to evolve throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with younger generations incorporating Symbolist, Art Nouveau, and even early Surrealist elements into their work.
Even as modernism came to dominate the French avant-garde in the early 1900s, the Pre-Raphaelites retained a dedicated following and significant institutional support. Major artists like Odilon Redon, Gustave Moreau, and Maurice Denis kept the movement's distinctive style and themes alive well into the 20th century. Pre-Raphaelite aesthetics and spirituality remained a powerful counter-current to the rise of secularism and materialism in French culture.
Today, the French Pre-Raphaelites are recognized as a pivotal artistic and cultural force that left an indelible mark on French literature, architecture, design, and especially religious art and iconography. Their influence can still be felt in the works of contemporary French artists who continue to explore the nexus of faith, symbolism, and visual poetry.
