Monday, December 19, 2011

Pre-Raphaelite Artist Salon






As if I need another reason to make it to the Dickens Fair someday. Blog reader Sheila let me know about the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Artists Salon held at the event every year. Could that be more fun??

The group "presents a whole Adventurer Club 'hour' (actually 45 minutes) of PRB delights. The audience will see members drawing and painting models, they will also be given paper and pencil to join in (especially children), instruction if requested, with soft music or inspiring poetry being performed."

From my perusal of their Facebook page, it appears every weekend they feature a new combination of models, poses, and continue the story line of the Brotherhood in a gossipy way. For instance, here's a sample "article" detailing the events of one of the Salons:
Those defiant Pre-Raphaelites

(By William Stillman, an American Journalist in London)

Effie defiantly says she will prove it. E. Ruskin’s petition to have her marriage to J. Ruskin annulled, has been challenged by Ruskin who now insists that Effie prove her contention that the marriage was never consummated.

William Morris is now planning to travel to Iceland. His daughter, May, was overheard requesting him to bring her an Icelandic pony on his return.

“Top”, the wombat owned by the D.G. Rossetti has discovered the delights of tobacco, and has eaten the Adventurers Club special reserve of South American cigars.

A growing circle of Pre-Raphaelites will meet again this weekend at the Adventurers Club at 3:30 PM to sketch and read poetry. Miss Lizzie Siddal will pose as Ophelia for a second time. Her bathing mishap, while posing for J. Millais will not be repeated."
Whoever created this salon is my new personal hero. Three cheers for their brilliance!!!

5 comments:

  1. This is amazing. I hope I can get to one of these someday and sit in to draw! :)

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  2. Please come see us next year, Lady Grace ! It is likely to be even better than the 2011 version: new tableaux, new poetry and so much more. We'd love to have you ! We are also hoping for a group outing to the 'Cult of Beauty' exhibition to be held at the San Francisco Legion of Honor in Spring 2012:

    http://legionofhonor.famsf.org/legion/exhibitions/cult-beauty-victorian-avant-garde-1860-1900

    Your humble servant ever, I remain steadfastly,

    Raymond E. André III /
    Algernon Charles Swinburne, PRB.

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  3. Guilty, along with my co-conspirators in the circle: Marie Spartali, Christina Rossetti, Algernon Swinburne, Lizzie Siddal, Edward Burne-Jones, Lucy Maddox Brown, Lillie Langtry, Jessie Bond, Fred Stevens, May Morris, John Everett Millais, and Mrs. Effie Ruskin (now Miss Effie Grey again). Oh, and Top the wombat joined in as well.

    Topsy

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  4. Grace,

    About a year ago we started to search for source material (photos, paintings, poetry and music) for developing the four tableaux for the Pre-Raphaelite Artist Salon. One of the best sites I found for inspiration was The Beautiful Necessity. Thus, I was flattered that you thought enough of our salon to mention it on your site. Thank you and I hope you can come and visit us in person some day.

    Topsy

    Grace,

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  5. What an honor to hear from Swinburne and Topsy! I am quite happy to hear from you, and even more thrilled to hear that my blog was a help in your preparations in any small way.

    I do hope you will keep me posted on your progress next year. I would love to do update posts as you prepare for the new season.

    Merry Christmas to all!

    Grace

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