The Pre-Raphaelites

The Pre-Raphaelite paintings that can be seen at National Museums Liverpool venues are among the best in the world. Liverpool was the only provincial town to have its own school of Pre-Raphaelite artists (The Liverpool Academy). Merchants and industrialists in the area often added Pre-Raphaelite pictures to their own collections and several of these have, over the years, found their way into public galleries.

In this special feature you can take a closer look at some of the works in our collections. Each painting is examined in detail, in particular looking at the following areas:

subject matter

Pre-Raphaelite paintings are often about serious or religious subjects

symbolism

many Pre-Raphaelite paintings contain visual symbols

technique

Pre-Raphaelite painters often used bright, clear colours and small detailed brushwork with paint put onto a wet white 'ground'. Landscape painting was often done out-of-doors with and concerned with 'truth to nature'

literary links

the painters' inspiration often came from literature

There are also sections available on the history of some of the painters. Click on the links below to find out more.

Gallery

In this section

• The Liverpool Academy
• Walker Art Gallery 19^th century collection
• Lady Lever Art Gallery Victorian and Edwardian art
• Sir John Everett Millais online feature

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