There are many important anniversaries to celebrate in paintings this year: here are some tasters.
Waterhouse
His oils and pastels were rich in colour, full of flowers and light, and radical visions even by today’s standards.
Accused by Rossetti of copying his work, Sandys was perhaps a better draftsman than he was at developing original ideas. But was he a plagiarist?
A popular title in the 19th century, it is almost a hallmark of the Aesthetic movement: no narrative, no meaning, just art for art’s sake. Except…
Several Pre-Raphaelites painted this character from a Shakespeare comedy, but as a symbol of despondent isolation. Why?
Towards the end of his career, he campaigned for students at the Royal Academy Schools to have proper life classes with nude models. And a nude got him into trouble.
Portraits and more of mysterious beauty and fascination. No quick thrills, but haunting images.
Best known as the most influential children’s book illustrator, he painted several narrative paintings too.
Beautiful painterly works showing Arthurian and classical legends, in the years before the First World War.
The Eclectic Light Company 