The Art of the Pre-Raphaelites

About the Class

In 1848, seven young British artists formed the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood with an ambitious goal: to reject the established art institutions of their day and look to the medieval past for inspiration. Devoted to the concept of “truth to nature,” the group’s radical vision influenced artists for generations to come.

In this four-session online course, we’ll explore the artists, ideas, and works that defined the Pre-Raphaelite movement, including paintings by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The course concludes with a closer look at Anglo-Jewish artist Simeon Solomon, whose work will be featured in an exhibition opening at the Delaware Art Museum in March 2027.

The class is online-only. More about online classes.

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Barnes classes will:

• Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
• Improve your ability to communicate about art.
• Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.

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What Our Students Say

“The instructor was not only knowledgeable but so accessible, and such an inviting presence. She provided great reading to supplement the course.” —Mary Cassatt: Art, Identity, and Independence with Larissa Bailiff

“Pierre brings the art alive with her inside stories and images and how she interacts with the students. She is always able to answer and follow up with more information at the next class.” —Exhibiting Modernism: From the Salon to the Avant-Garde with Caterina Pierre

“Alison Boyd was engaging and effective during the online instruction, and she offered well-selected background materials for further reading.” —Aaron Douglas from Harlem to Philly with Alison Boyd