In Pre Raphaelite paintings women are either depicted as virgin or whore discuss
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The Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood was established in London in 1848. A year remembered for its political upheaval and social change, this band of individuals were inspired by the revolutionary spirit that surrounded them. Founding members included Dante Gabriel Rossetti, his brother William and John Everett Millais. These men and others who followed their example were entirely committed to a revival of the styles and content of the art that was popular before Raphael (1483-1520). Early Italian art was typified by a dedication to reality, morality and romance. Despite this, it would be wrong to assume we could separate their art from the historical setting they worked in. Claiming their aim was 'truth' and 'exactitude'1, the Pre-Raphaelites intended to paint their subjects with honesty and attention to detail. Women, although traditionally thought of as the fairer sex, were treated with the same amount of candour. As Victorian attitudes to sex and gender roles were complex, we can learn a lot from these paintings. The female was usually seen as either a virgin or a whore, rendering sexuality an incredibly controversial and compelling subject...