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The Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood was established in London in 1848. ... 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. The art of any culture reflects the society it has been constructed within, and the Pre-Raphaelite movement was no different.
As a nation deeply concerned Christianity and its moral requirements, religious paintings were naturally a popular choice for any artist. Rossetti’s Ecce Ancilla Domini2 is an early example of the Pre-Raphaelite portrayal of the innocent woman. The painting depicts an interpretation of the annunciation of the Virgin Mary. ... Pale, thin, and somewhat plain the virgin may appear asexual and unattractive. ... In keeping with the Pre-Raphaelite convention the flowers behind her are exceptionally detailed. ... Gone is the minimalism and natural beauty of the previous paintings. ... Our whole view is illuminated with overtones of red that create a feeling of warmth and passion that have been missing from both the preceding paintings have mentioned. ... Women who displayed any interest in sexual matters were a source of horror at a time when the inheritance process still prevailed. ... Unlike the virgin’s who are obviously faithful to Christianity, this young woman appears to ignore the concept entirely. ... Entirely the reverse of the plain and rational stereotype of the ideal British Victorian home, we are reminded of the fear of ‘otherness’ involved in a comparison of the virgin and whore of society. ... Evidently geared by, and for the male sector of society, Pre-Raphaelite painting examines female sexual mores and discriminates accordingly. The virgin’s are then portrayed as meek, colourless and innocent, whilst the whore’s are glossy seductresses who provide the male with a glimpse of what would otherwise be forbidden.
Approximate Word count = 1704
Approximate Pages = 6.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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