Did you know this about the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood?

24th February 2019

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood were founded in 1848 by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The group was made up of English painters, poets and critics. Joining the three founders were four more members; William Michael Rossetti, James Collinson and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. This formed the seven members which were known as the Brotherhood.

The principles of this group have been influential for artists; notably the first wave of artists were Ford Madox Brown, Arthur Hughes and Marie Spartali Stillman.

It was this original group in 1848 that inspired a later more medieval strain of the group which included Edward Burne-Jones. Rossetti in particular had a huge impact on Burne-Jones, William Morris and friends.

The Brotherhood was a direct response to the work of Raphael. The classical poses he favoured created elegant art and they believed this had a corrupting influence on the academic teaching of art. The name therefore… Pre-Raphaelite.
The Brotherhood wanted to focus on reviving art to the Quattrocento Italian art. Full of intense vibrant colours, minute detailing and complex compositions. That art is truly beautiful; if you ever get the chance to see any of the Pre-Raphaelite artists art, you should seize it! There’s some pieces in the Tate in London; if you visit, be sure to look out for them.
The published their own periodical; The Germ. They used this to promote their ideas. Though remembered for their art, this publication included ideas and concerns which allowed them to spread the message of the group to a wider society. This was a great way to spread their message – there was no social media viral movement in those days remember!
The movement was founded in John Millais’s parents house on Gower Street in London. In attendance; Millais, Rossetti and Holman Hunt.
The Brotherhood actually intended to keep the existence of the group secret of the Royal Academy.
The Brotherhood was much more than a period or aspect of art. It was a social, political and cultural phenomenon and rebellion.
The medieval strain of the group which included Burne-Jones and Morris was at a time where mass industrialisation was occurring; the group were passionate about using traditional methods of craft by traditional and skilled craftsmen.
Because the movement was supposed to be secret. The founding members signed paintings with, ‘’PRB’’ along with their own signature. They then refused to explain the initials and this piqued the interest of the art critics and buyers of the time.
1848 – the year the Brotherhood was founded, became known as the, ‘Year of Revolution.’ Beginning in France and spreading across Europe. The cause was the political and social dissatisfaction and unrest of the time. The working and middle classes wanted freedom of speech and democracy.
John Everett Millais – one of the founding members of the PRB was gifted from a young age. Becoming aware of his talents when he was aged nine, his mother moved them to London and he was granted early entry to the Royal Academy when he was only eleven. He was the youngest student ever to be admitted.
You can’t speak about the Brotherhood and their work without mentioning the women. Their models and muses that dominate their work have caused them to be known as ultimate Pre Raphaelite women. This gains us an insight as to what their ideal beauty looked like at the time. Lizzie Siddal and Jane Morris were amongst these women and feature in many of the paintings. Siddal was a muse for many of the artists; notably her husband’s in particular. She married Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1860.

We hope you enjoyed this blog and learnt more about the Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood. There’s so much to read and learn about the movement that we can’t possibly include it all in one blog. However – keep your eyes peeled for further updates on our blog and social media; we love to post on Instagram and Twitter!

Halloween but make it chic ✨ We love that our William Morris tablecloths can be dressed for every season, one purchase styled various ways year round 🌱☀️🍂❄️
•
•
•
#strawberrythief #williammorris #williammorrisdesign #halloween #autumntablescape

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18119431366799657

Happy Halloween! 🎃 Use code; TREAT on our website for the last day of 15% off 👻 Don’t these colours just work together beautifully, our licensed William Morris Mallow Forest Green was a new colour way we brought out last Christmas, and we’ve used all year round it’s the perfect green ✨
•
•
•
#williammorris #wmorris #williammorrisdesign #floraldesigns #autumntable

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18121303196603613

Team matching or team mix and match? 👻👇

Our napkins come in packs of 4, but if you’re a maximalist at heart, have a look at our sale section. We have packs of 1 and 2, so you can build your own beautifully mismatched set 🌸🎃

Shop via the link in bio.

#williammorris #maximalisthome #tablescape #halloweentable #laurasbeau

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18105139106010416

Cotton or heavyweight cotton? Here’s how to choose 🧵✨

All of our fabrics are licensed William Morris designs, digitally printed here in the UK. We offer two weights, so you can pick the right one for your project:

🌿 Cotton
Lighter, softer and easy to sew. It drapes beautifully and is perfect for:

- Dressmaking, like skirts, blouses and shirts
- Quilting and patchwork
- Pillowcases and bedding
- Bunting, lavender bags and small crafts
- Lightweight curtains

🌿 Heavyweight cotton
Thicker and sturdier, It holds its shape and stands up to light upholstery use, so it’s ideal for:

- Cushion covers
- Curtains and roman blinds
- Light upholstery, like chair seats and headboards
- Tote bags and aprons
- Tablecloths and placemats

Not sure which you need? Send us a message and we’ll happily help 💛

Shop by the half metre via the link in bio.
-
#williammorrisfabric #cottonfabric #upholsteryfabric #quiltingfabric #laurasbeau

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18198853447400074

Re-introducing Charlotte Rose 🌹

Our very own design, taken from our French archive of late 1800s to early 1900s prints. We fell in love with these delicate sprigs of tumbling roses and just had to bring them back to life 💕

You can buy her ready-made as a tablecloth and napkins, or by the half metre if you’d like to make something of your own 🧵

Pretty, romantic, and made for long lunches and special occasions 🥂 Link in bio to shop. #charlotterose #frenchvintage #floraltablecloth #tablescape #laurasbeau

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18118575736782437

Your Strawberry Thief, cut to order ✂️🍓

Every order is measured and cut to order. We sell it by the half metre, so it’s ideal for small projects or big makes. It’s a licensed William Morris design, digitally printed in the UK ✨

Order yours via the link in bio 💛

#strawberrythief #williammorris #fabricbythemetre #sewingfabric #laurasbeau

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 17904464868657030

Who else loves making their own cards and gifts? ✂️🧵

This sweet anniversary bunny was made with little scraps of our William Morris fabric. It’s proof that even the smallest offcuts can become something really special 💛

With Halloween around the corner and Christmas not far behind, now’s the perfect time to get crafting 🎃🎄 Think appliqué cards, fabric gift tags, lavender bags, bunting, Christmas tree decorations and pretty wrapping for presents 🎁

A handmade gift will always mean so much with the thought and time gone into it, but be sure to start well in advance so you’re not frantically sewing on Christmas Eve! ✨

What are you making this season? Let us below 👇 #handmadecards #fabriccrafts #williammorris #handmadechristmas #laurasbeau

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18646852804017389

Ever wondered why our fabrics look so good up close? 🔍✨

Every one of our William Morris designs is digitally printed and manufactured right here in the UK, and here’s why we love it:

🎨 Incredible detail. Every tiny petal, berry and feather comes out crisp and true to the original design. The colours are consistent and gorgeous.
🌈 Rich, accurate colours that stay just as vibrant as the artwork intended when Morris designed them
🌿 Kinder to the planet. Digital printing typically uses far less water than traditional methods, and we print in smaller batches, so there’s less waste.
🇬🇧 Supporting British makers. A shorter supply chain means we keep skills, jobs and quality close to home.

It’s a modern way to bring timeless designs into your home 💛

Shop via the link in bio. #digitalprinting #madeinbritain #williammorris #sustainablefabric #laurasbeau

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18086808122703325

Autumn is in full swing at ours 🍂

We’ve brought the season indoors with blackberries, rosehips and the last of the hydrangeas, set against our Strawberry Thief fabric. This licensed William Morris design is digitally printed and manufactured in the UK 🇬🇧

Those cheeky little thrushes look right at home among the berries! 🐦🍓

Shop via the link in bio 💛 Three sizes of tablecloth available - 147cm round, 132 x 178cm and 132 x 229cm ☺️. #strawberrythief #williammorris #autumntablescape #madeinuk #laurasbeau

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18128510087497705

What are you all dressing up as for Halloween? This was last years costume for Bertie, what can he be this year? 🎃🖤

He’s lounging on our Compton fabric, a licensed William Morris design printed in the UK. A pumpkin with good taste!

Tell us your costume plans below 👇#halloweendog #blacklab #williammorris #comptonfabric #laurasbeau

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18118779263073745

What would you make with this fabric? 🧵

Our Golden Lily heavyweight fabric is a licensed William Morris print, printed in the UK, and it’s a dream to sew with. Cushion covers, roman blinds, tote bags, a reupholstered chair… tell me in the comments what you`d make👇

Available now, we sell it by the half metre for £13.25

#sewingproject #upholsteryfabric #williammorris #printedinuk #laurasbeau

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18088722545291582

Setting up for an evening of crafting ✂️ These 20cm x 20cm squares we sell as bundles of 5 fabric pieces, they’re perfect for smaller crafts, what would you make from them? 🪡🧵
•
•
•
#crafting #girlscraftnight #craftnight #fabricstash #williammorris

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18221610979355594

Cosy Sunday season is here 🕯️ anyone else constantly got a candle burning and a grazing board on the table at the moment? 🎃
On the table, we’ve got our beautiful Mallow Wine licensed William Morris design, a staple year round but especially this time of year 🤍
•
•
•
#williammorris #williammorrisdesign #onthetable #tablescape #florals

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 17951066472304113

October is for treating ourselves all month right? 👻 On the table is our gorgeous William Morris licensed Mallow Wine design, this time of year it’s rarely off the table! 🤍
•
•
•
#williammorris #autumntable #autumntablescape #countrykitchen #wmorris

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18223143691338536

A fabulous way to display your best new tea towel; a tea towel bow 🎀 I’ve been doing these a lot lately, but I’m so excited for how festive they’ll look for the coming season! ✨
•
•
•
#williammorris #wmorris #strawberrythief #smallbusiness #countrykitchen

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18112509491522203

We’re making some new fat quarter bundle sets for the website, let us know any combinations you’d like to see! ✨ We know lots of quilters like colour combos to match, do you prefer like colours or clashing? 🫶🏻
•
•
•
#williammorris #wmorris #fatquarters #fatquarterbundles #quilterofinstagram

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18183698953424674

Autumn gardens are upon us! 🍂 anyone else just constantly brushing up leaves? 🙆🏽‍♀️ These Compton William Morris tea towels are our favourites this time of year, the digital print on them is so crisp 👌🏼
•
•
#williammorris #compton #cottagekitchen #farmhousekitchen #autumngarden

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18100121936333436

New product! 🩷 Our Charlotte Rose French floral design is so beautiful, it’s from our French floral archive and we’ve just decided to do tea towels in it in time for the season of gifting 🎁 £10.99 each, available now on our website ✨
•
•
•
#frenchflorals #frenchstyle #countrykitchen #countrystyle #countrystylehome

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 17903922606574327

Bringing back the pumpkin napkin fold 🎃 Anyone want a tutorial on how to do it? ⭐️
This is our licensed William Morris Compton design, isn’t it gorgeous 🍂
•
•
#williammorris #williammorrisdesign #compton #autumntable #napkinfolding

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 18092129330668928

All printed in the UK, these are the licensed William Morris designs we cut today- can you name them all? ✨
•
•
#williammorris #williammorrisfabric #fabrics #wmorris #smallbusiness

Open post by laurasbeau with ID 17924203626200353

Your Cart

Did you know this about the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood?

Related Articles

5 Things you didn’t know about Philip Webb

Arthur Boyd Houghton

Red House