Art History Lovers' See~"The Last Pre-Raphaelite:Edward Burne-Jones..

Pubished by:  Faber & Faber

Release Date:  September 1, 2011

Synopsis:

Edward Burne-Jones is the greatest British artist of the second half of the nineteenth century. The most admired British artist of his generation, he was a leading figure with Oscar Wilde in the aesthetic movement of the 1880s. This title explores and re-evaluates his art and life.

Trade review:

A new biography of Edward Burne-Jones, the greatest British artist of the second half of the 19th century. Explores and re-evaluates his art and life, including his battle against vicious public hostility, and the romantic susceptibility to female beauty that would inspire his art and ruin his marriage. From the author of "Eric Gill" and "William Morris".




The Dame's Note :


When I was studying Art History and Museum Studies sooo many years ago, the Pre-Raphaelites had my heart.  I did many papers on them, and examined their work for hours.  A house dedicated to the study of art and beautifully decorated in the time period just around Edward Burne-Jones's time is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, MA, which is conveniently located across the way from the Museum of Fine Arts there.  Guess who spent many an afternoon in that house and her courtyard studying?


Mrs. Gardner's home was willed to the Museum with the stipulation that absolutely nothing could be changed in how she had decorated it and hung her large collection of art works.  Among her collection you find John Singer Sargeant's work; as he was a famous Boston figure and worked prolifically at the MofFA, Boston.  And, while you won't find a Burne-Jones in residence at the Gardner, you'll find a Dante Gabriel Rossetti (the brother of poet Christina Rossetti, btw...) in the Yellow Room there. It was painted in 1860 the time of Burne-Jones. Go see!


All of the above to say that if you haven't been introduced to the Pre-Raphaelites, please give yourself and your education a life-changing moment of enlightenment.  Watch this live video, for a start...and good luck if you choose to do some research on your own! 

The Pre-Raph's called the gorgeous women they loved to paint, marry and have affairs with "Stunners," and you'll see why...


Deborah/TheBookishDame

I would love to know how these artworks affect you.  Have you seen any of the Pre-Raphaelite paintings in museums you've visited?  If so, who is your favorite artist?

Thanks for stopping by!