Boys of the Brotherhood + their Pre-raph sisters

Silly little ravings and facts about the Pre-raphalite brotherhood and their art, poetry and lives. (and the women of course <33)

[preraphaelitewomen]

My favourite deadly sin, rawrth

[preraphaelitewomen]

The Blind Girl - John Everett Millais (1854 -56)

Two sisters sat on the grass, they were beggars, performing on streets for money. Behind them two rainbows emerged out of the remaining dark clouds, which had soaked the scarf that gave them shelter. The younger girl stares at the colourful arches in awe, however her sister turns her face the other direction, letting the warm sun soak into her skin. Underneath the damp scarf, she wears a sign around her neck saying "pity the blind"

One of my favourite pieces from Millais. Just two girls (assumed to be sisters) enjoying nature in their own ways.

[preraphaelitewomen]

As a society, we don't talk about Elizabeth Siddal enough.

[preraphaelitewomen]

TIL that the PRB had an agreement that if one member "grew weary of life" they could ask another member to kill them, and it would be done with 0 questions asked.

[preraphaelitewomen]

Lady Lillith (1866-68) - Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Modelling in this piece is Fanny Cornthorth, who Rossetti had repeated affairs with. Naming the piece after Lilith is a reference to the sexual nature of their relationship.

Unlike Eve, Lilith was made from the same soil as Adam, not his rib. As a result, she refused to be subservient to Adam and ended up leaving him and the garden of Eden. She became a symbol of sexual promiscuity and sin.

“She represents the New Woman, free of male control, scourge of the patriarchal Victorian family,” - Virginia M. Allen, historian.

In some Jewish traditions, mothers tie red string to their newborns wrist to ward off lilith. In this depiction of Lilith, she has tied a red hibbon to her own left wrist as if embracing her own 'sinful' nature.

[preraphaelitewomen]

Sibylla Palmifera (1866–70) - Dante Gabriel Rossetti

While Lady Lilith represents the sexual and physical side of Rossettis and Cornforths relationship. Sibylla Palmifera shows the innocent beauty of the soul. The paintings were published together, alongside a sonnet each, titled "Body's beauty" and "Souls beauty" respectively.

[preraphaelitewomen]

Lady Lillith (1866-68) - Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Modelling in this piece is Fanny Cornthorth, who Rossetti had repeated affairs with. Naming the piece after Lilith is a reference to the sexual nature of their relationship.

Unlike Eve, Lilith was made from the same soil as Adam, not his rib. As a result, she refused to be subservient to Adam and ended up leaving him and the garden of Eden. She became a symbol of sexual promiscuity and sin.

“She represents the New Woman, free of male control, scourge of the patriarchal Victorian family,” - Virginia M. Allen, historian.

In some Jewish traditions, mothers tie red string to their newborns wrist to ward off lilith. In this depiction of Lilith, she has tied a red hibbon to her own left wrist as if embracing her own 'sinful' nature.

[preraphaelitewomen]

Ophelia (1851-52) - John Everett Millais

Depicts the death of Ophelia from the Shakespeare play Hamlet.

Her story involves her being driven mad after the murder of her father by Hamlet. She drowns, after falling into the river while picking flowers. She continued singing while slowly drowning.