Pre-Raphaelites Reframed

Cartwright Hall presents a selection of works from Bradford District Museums & Galleries’ Pre-Raphaelite collection.

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was founded in London in 1848 by artists Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais and William Holman Hunt. The group set out to challenge the dominant artistic conventions of their time. Rejecting the teachings of the Royal Academy and the infl uence of artists such as Raphael, they instead looked to earlier traditions of painting for inspiration. Their work is known for its intense details, bright colours, and depictions of nature, often using real people as models rather than idealised classical figures.

Although the Brotherhood itself lasted only a few years, its influence spread widely and helped shape British art and design. Artists and designers such as William Morris carried many of the same ideas into the Arts and Crafts movement.

The works displayed here include studies by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and others associated with the movement, offering an insight into how these artists worked and the people who appeared in their paintings.

Alongside the historic works, the gallery also includes contemporary responses developed with Bradford’s Equity Partnership, inviting visitors to reflect on how these artworks are understood today.