What's the difference between Pre-Raphalite and Raphael's Paintings?
Are they the same or are they very different?
Why are the names so similar?
Let’s find out if Pre-Raphaelite has anything to do with Raphael himself. I wanted to know more about Pre-Raphaelite and also learn more about the connection between these two types of art styles and artists.
We’ll be looking at a whole bunch of different paintings, but mainly focusing on similarities between the 2 art styles/ art eras.
"La belle jardiniere" 1507 by Raphael
"The Lady of Shalott" by John William Waterhouse
"Ophelia" by John William Waterhouse
"Ophelia" by John Everett Millais
”Mariana” by John Everett Millais
What is Pre-Raphaelite?
Pre-Raphaelite is a 19th-century British art movement inspired by the theories of John Ruskin who urged artists to “Go to nature”. They believed in an art of serious subjects treated with maximum realism. The principals then were initially religious but they also used subjects from literature and poetry, particularly those dealing with love and death.
The main things to keep in mind about Pre-Raphaelite
Lots of nature in the painting
Subjects from literature and poetry
Female as the main subject (most of the time)
Who’s Raphael?
Raphael is an Italian painter and one of the greatest artists known in the High Renaissance (around 1490s to the 1520s). Along together with Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci who dominated the art world of their time.
What is similar between the 2?
Now let’s take a look and see what is similar between the paintings of Pre-Raphaelite and Raphael. On the left, you have one of Raphael’s paintings “La belle jardiniere" 1507 and on the right are paintings by Pre-Raphaelite artists.
Incorporating lots of nature into the composition and painting. As one of the supporting subjects for the whole piece.
Right painting = "The Lady of Shalott" by John William Waterhouse Using female subjects as their main character and playing the leading role in the painting.
Right painting - ”Mariana” by John Everett Millais Realism and the amount of attention they have for detail.
Right painting = "Ophelia" by John William Waterhouse
What is Different between the 2?
The color palette and the choice of color used in the painting would be the main thing that makes a large difference between the two art styles/movements.
As you can see in the example above. Colors have a lot more variety in Pre-Raphaelite paintings. To the point where it is a little bit too much. But not all Pre-Raphaelite paintings are like this one.
John William Waterhouse's color palette is a lot more neutral. Less jumpy and more calming. So depending on the artist and the painting, it will have a very different impact.
So in the end they do have quite a few very similar things. Like keeping Realism and attention to detail, also having lots of nature in the artwork, and also having a female play the leading role in the painting.
Mini Exercise for you!
This week, try and see what Pre-Raphaelite or Raphael elements you can add to your paintings. Whether it’s adding more nature into your painting or having a lady as the main character and also applying more realism and detail.
Have fun exploring!
What did you discover?
I’m curious to see your thoughts on the paintings from Pre-Raphaelite artists and Raphael himself and If you also discovered something new about it, I would love to know! (You can comment and share your thoughts below!)
Thank you for reading my fun little discovery and I hope you also get to learn and share your discoveries too!
You can also share it with fellow friends, family and, artists of today's Victoria Yu Art on social media, forward it to someone who might benefit, or text it to a friend. Thanks for reading!
PS Feel free to watch my new YouTube video about this new post! Sharing thoughts and ideas!
I enjoy these tutorials Victoria. They are also such a great way to see more closely. Thank you!