Pre-Raphaelites - National Gallery of Australia (NGA)

Spent some quality time at the NGA, Canberra the other day.
They had a exhibition of some wonderful art on loan from the Tate (mostly).
https://nga.gov.au/lovedesire/

I remember seeing this painting as a child in a book. In the flesh it's ever more beautiful.

It's of course Ophelia by John Everett Millais.
Painted in 1851, it depicts a character from Shapesphere ... Ophelia who was driven mad after her lover Hamlet murdered her father.

Poppies signify death . Daisies innocence. The drooping branches evoke tears & sadness.

Holman Hunt - the light of the world.
Painted around 1851 - 56

It's all about salvation as Christ holding a lantern emerges from the darkness.
A later version of this toured Australia in 1905. It was seen by 4/5 of the population.

This is a cool painting about love, desire and disappointment.
It's called broken vow. Painted 1856.
The young lady in the foreground has just discovered her lover has been unfaithful.

Tales of romantic and tragic love often appear in the Pre-Raphaelites' works.
Its interesting to see how women were depicted in Victorian times.

This version of the Annunciation by Rossetti is so untraditional and very "human". Mary looks very disturbed and uncomfortable when the angel Gabriel visits.

This is a pretty famous painting ,,,, the lady of Shalott, 1888.
The subject has left the safety of her home to pursue Lancelot.