Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

pre-Raphaelite

Adjective/Noun

prē-ˈra-fə-ˌlēt

Definition

A member of a group of English painters, poets, and critics founded in 1848, who sought to return to the abundant detail, intense colors, and complex compositions of pre-Renaissance art, as an alternative to the academic standards of their time.

Examples

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, founded by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, and John Everett Millais, made a significant impact on English art.
Many of their artworks are characterized by elaborate details and vibrant colors.
The pre-Raphaelite style was a response to the industrialization and materialism of the Victorian era.

Meaning

The term ‘pre-Raphaelite’ refers to the movement and its members who aimed to express purity and simplicity in their art, challenging conventional approaches to representation and subject matter.