Sunday, November 30, 2008

So excited I could burst...Lady of Shalott film


Thanks to Stephanie Pina for directing my attention to this incredibly exciting new project!

WAG Screen, a group devoted to film and historic reenactment both, are producing a film based on Tennyson's Lady of Shalott. And most definitively also based on the famous Waterhouse artwork.

I am incredibly impressed by the amount of accuracy to the painting they have created! Look for yourself:







The original Waterhouse image, for anyone who has forgotten (but who could??)

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Worth 1,000

Today while searching for something else (of course) I came across Worth 1,000. I've been there before, but I'd never seen their (highly amusing) takes on Pre-Raphaelite art. They are scattered throughout their photo-manipulation galleries, but well-worth seeking out for the humor factor.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Click to see larger...she has a cell phone :)








Stay tuned for a special post on holiday gifts for the Pre-Raphaelite afficionado in your life!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Burne-Jones Red House Tribute


Today I wanted to share a great image I was able to find of the panel Burne-Jones made for display near the settle in Red House, one of a series telling the story of The Wedding Procession of Sir Degrevaunt.

What I love about this image is, of course, that the central figures are actually portraits of William Morris and Jane. But I also love that this is a serious portrait. So often we see comical drawings of Topsy made by his friends, or tongue-in-cheek use of his image for comic reasons (i.e. the stained glass window with Morris as Goliath's head) but here we have a true celebration of the union of William and Jane, done before their marriage began its bitter turn toward infidelity.

The location of the painting can be seen in the below image, click to enlarge:


Thanks to this wonderful site for both images.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

J.W. Waterhouse, in statue form


Every now and then, I peruse ebay to try to find non-print, unique Pre-Raphaelite items. Tonight I discovered a gorgeous find.

This ebay seller has two of J.W. Waterhouse's artworks available in statue form. And they are, in my opinion, beautiful. I'm especially tempted to purchase the Lamia statue. I wonder where I could find room for it in our small apartment...

(The Danaides is lovely, though the picky part of me feels the mythic purpose of the vessel is defeated without the water pouring back out of the gargoyle's mouth)


Sunday, November 9, 2008

More wonderful images of William Morris

William Morris, the school boy, doodled in one of his textbooks. The sign being held by the man says "W. Morris, His Horace." Note also the steeple drawing.
A note identifies this page of sketches to have been done by Morris during a committee meeting. That restless man could never stop his brilliant mind.
This rather pointed drawing was done after Morris changed the name and ownership of the company from "Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co." to the simple "Morris & Co." Zooming in, you can see the dejected lost members of the legacy sitting with a sign that says "we are starving", a cupola above them torn to simply say "___ & Co."

A page of doodles done by Morris:I especially love the stained glass cartoon on the left:



I still have a few more delightful images to share with you from this marvelous book!

V for Vendetta

Blast...I should have done this post about 4 days ago (remember, remember, the 5th of November).

Just another Pre-Raphaelite art sighting. Apparently V has wonderful taste in paintings...among the ones he "rescues" for his underground lair is one that should look very familiar:

(click to see larger)

I noticed this when we first saw the movie in theaters, but kept forgetting to screen cap it and share here.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Baba Studio Prague



We interrupt this blog to recommend a vendor. Etsy seller Baba Studio Prague has absolutely gorgeous bags, from tarot deck-size to messenger bag size, with gorgeous printed artworks.

I've appreciated their work for a while, but I especially appreciate that they're starting to slowly phase in some Pre-Raphaelite artists as well as their standard Golden Age fairy tale illustrators and Mucha.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

William Morris biography

I've found a William Morris biography that's just chock full of all kinds of wonderful Burne-Jones cartoons and other rare drawings. I thought I'd share a few today.



These next two were totally new to me, and I love them!
I wish I could read the text on the below image, or figure out exactly what it is. I suspect it's Topsy accusing the maid of faulty seamstress work, since his seams have ripped.





There are several more, but I'll have to do another post with them!