From Booklist
As Prettejohn notes, so much has been written on those mid-nineteenth-century English art radicals, the Pre-Raphaelites, that some bookstores have separate sections to accommodate all the tomes about them. How could anything exciting remain to be said about them? Well, for many art lovers, what Prettejohn says will be pretty intriguing. She takes the extreme reactions to Pre-Raphaelite painting, then and now, seriously; looks again and more thoroughly at the meticulous realism, even lighting, clashing colors, and multiple foci in their paintings; and suggests a new story about the development of modern art, from Pre-Raphaelitism to symbolism to surrealism to pop art to postmodernism. If that doesn't pique art book readers' interest, perhaps Prettejohn's attention to the female Pre-Raphaelites, or her consideration of gender and sexuality in Pre-Raphaelite art, or the luscious reproductions of virtually all the famous and many lesser-known but entrancing Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces will. Art libraries, consider this book essential.
Ray OlsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
Suggests a new story about the development of modern art... [with] luscious reproductions. --
BooklistThe author argues that Pre-Raphaelite art requires long, close scrutiny. Her book equally merits lingering and absorbing attention. --
ForeWordThe first combined study of these artists to appear in 15 years. . . . Highly recommended. --
Library JournalThe first combined study of these artists to appear in 15 years. . . . Highly recommended. --
Library Journal
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