Pre Raphaelite Artwork
Pre raphaelite artwork brings nineteenth century literary and romantic subjects into your home through expressive paintings and delicate works on paper.
Pre Raphaelite Artwork
Pre raphaelite artwork encompasses nineteenth century paintings, watercolours, and drawings that draw inspiration from medieval chivalry, classical mythology, and romantic literature. Buyers searching for pre raphaelite artwork encounter depictions of figures from Shakespeare, Dante, and ancient legends rendered with intense visual detail.
The pieces on this page primarily date from the nineteenth century and the Victorian period, extending into early twentieth century prints and lithographs. Oil on canvas and framed watercolour paintings dominate the selection, often housed within period wooden frames.
Subjects range from romantic figure studies and detailed naturalism to allegorical scenes of gods, angels, and fairies. Many examples bridge the Victorian Pre Raphaelite movement with later Art Nouveau and Victorian Symbolism styles.
How They Were Made
Artists created these works using traditional nineteenth century media, combining oil on canvas or oil on panel with rich layers of pigment. Watercolours and gouache on paper required precise brushwork to capture intricate textures in foliage, fabrics, and hair.
Many works incorporate ink, wash, and graphite to establish foundational detail before applying colour. Prints, photogravures, and lithographs from the period offered a method to reproduce popular compositions for wider distribution.
Pre Raphaelite Artwork Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for pre raphaelite artwork among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature works across multiple media including oil on canvas, watercolour, gouache, graphite, ink, and lithograph.
What Varies in Quality
The distinction between standard pieces and exceptional examples rests upon the execution of the primary subject and the subtlety of the colour palette. Hand painted oils and original watercolours display a depth of handling that differentiates them from mechanical prints and later copies.
Condition of the paper or canvas plays a significant role in the overall integrity of the piece, alongside the presence of original framing materials such as gold leaf or carved wood. Works retaining strong provenance or attributed to known nineteenth century hands command greater attention from collectors.
Sir Joseph Noel Paton·James Smetham·Elisabeth Sonrel·Herbert Gustave Schmaltz·Philip Richard Morris·Alice Anne Renshaw·Jean Baptiste Isabey·Arthur Hacker·Edmund George Warren·John Sherrin·Sir John Everett Millais
The Pre Raphaelite Artwork Glossary
- Gouache
- An opaque watercolour paint that includes a white pigment to create a heavier, flatter finish than traditional transparent watercolour. It allows artists to build solid areas of vibrant colour.
- Lithograph
- A printmaking method based on the repulsion of oil and water on a flat stone or metal plate. This technique enabled artists to reproduce detailed drawings and paintings.
- Photogravure
- A photographic printmaking process that produces a high quality image with continuous tones. It translates fine details from original paintings onto paper through an etched copper plate.
- Victorian Symbolism
- An artistic movement focusing on metaphorical imagery and inner emotional states rather than strict realism. It frequently overlaps with Pre Raphaelite and Art Nouveau aesthetics.
- Watercolour
- A paint consisting of pigment suspended in a water soluble vehicle, typically applied to paper. Artists utilised this medium for both finished exhibition pieces and preliminary sketches.
Pre Raphaelite Artwork: Frequently Asked Questions
What defines pre raphaelite artwork?
Pre raphaelite artwork is characterised by nineteenth century subjects drawn from literature, mythology, and nature, painted with vivid attention to detail and colour.
The style emerged in Victorian Britain as a rejection of academic conventions, favouring intense observation of the natural world and medieval narrative themes.
Are these pieces original paintings?
The selection includes both original hand painted works in oil and watercolour alongside period prints, lithographs, and photogravures.
Examining the medium listed for each specific item reveals whether the piece is a unique hand rendered painting or a period reproduction.
How should I frame these works?
Works on paper require conservation mounting behind glass to protect fragile watercolours and drawings from light and moisture damage.
Period wooden frames, particularly those with gilt or gold leaf finishes, complement the nineteenth century aesthetic of these paintings.
What periods do these pieces date from?
Most items originate from the nineteenth century and the broader Victorian era, spanning the height of the Pre Raphaelite movement.
Some examples extend into the early twentieth century, reflecting the lingering influence of Victorian styles into the art nouveau period.