First published in 1997, and written by leading scholars of the day , these fifteen essays examine aspects of the reception and collecting of Pre-Raphaelite Art, the social and cultural context in which the work was favoured and acquired. Two major collections provide the focus for the investigation: that of the Birmingham city Museums and Art Gallery in the United Kingdom, and that of the American Samuel Bancroft Jr, now part of the Delaware Art Museum. The study of these two collections both formed in the late 1890', places Pre-Raphaelite Art at nexus of contemporary cultural issues that touched the lives of both the city council, intent on establishing a public gallery of national importance, and a wealthy American businessman, indulging a private passion for the work of these artists. The contributors approach the issue in a variety of ways, These include the study of the ambitions and self-perception of collectors of the period, an analysis of the impact of John Ruskin's campaign to establish Pre-Raphaelite painting as the 'Art of England' , and its impact on notions of civic and national identity ; the examination of individual painting in relation to such issues as the portrayal of women, the nude and of religious subjects ; and the study of the Victorian preoccupation with Renaissance Italy and the attempt by Ruskin, Charles Fairfax Murray , advisor to the two collections, and the Grosvenor Gallery, to proclaim the Pre-Raphaelite artists as the true inheritors of the 'genius' of Renaissance Italian artists.These essays were first presented at a symposium held at the Delaware Art Museum during the exhibition there of the paintings of Birmingham City Museums and Art Gallery.

First published in 1997, and written by leading scholars of the day , these fifteen essays examine aspects of the reception and collecting of Pre-Raphaelite Art, the social and cultural context in which the work was favoured and acquired. Two major collections provide the focus for the investigation: that of the Birmingham city Museums and Art Gallery in the United Kingdom, and that of the American Samuel Bancroft Jr, now part of the Delaware Art Museum. The study of these two collections both formed in the late 1890', places Pre-Raphaelite Art at nexus of contemporary cultural issues that touched the lives of both the city council, intent on establishing a public gallery of national importance, and a wealthy American businessman, indulging a private passion for the work of these artists. The contributors approach the issue in a variety of ways, These include the study of the ambitions and self-perception of collectors of the period, an analysis of the impact of John Ruskin's campaign to establish Pre-Raphaelite painting as the 'Art of England' , and its impact on notions of civic and national identity ; the examination of individual painting in relation to such issues as the portrayal of women, the nude and of religious subjects ; and the study of the Victorian preoccupation with Renaissance Italy and the attempt by Ruskin, Charles Fairfax Murray , advisor to the two collections, and the Grosvenor Gallery, to proclaim the Pre-Raphaelite artists as the true inheritors of the 'genius' of Renaissance Italian artists.These essays were first presented at a symposium held at the Delaware Art Museum during the exhibition there of the paintings of Birmingham City Museums and Art Gallery.

A lively and multi-faceted account of Evelyn and William De Morgan, exploring a unique artistic partnership that spanned several cultural circles including the Pre-Raphaelites and Arts and Crafts movement With a partnership spanning two centuries, the Pre-Raphaelite painter Evelyn (1855-1919) and Arts and Crafts potter and author William De Morgan (1839-1917) influenced several significant art movements in nineteenth-century Britain. Despite this, their impact has been relatively overlooked in comparison with their better-known contemporaries. Evelyn & William De Morgan is the first major publication devoted to the work of either artist and their unique relationship. It draws out each artist's individuality while providing a comprehensive view of the expanded cultural milieu in which they functioned, not least with regard to new attitudes towards Victorian marriage as a working partnership. The fully illustrated publication features numerous contributions which explore the reach of the De Morgans' partnership, their political and spiritual interests, and their immersion within several influential cultural circles of the day, including Pre-Raphaelite, Arts and Crafts, and Aesthetic Movement groups. The book presents a lively and multifaceted account of the De Morgans and their creative partnership. Published in association with Delaware Art Museum Exhibition Schedule: Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington October 22, 2022-January 29, 2023 Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA September 17, 2023- January 7, 2024 Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, FL January 27, 2024-May 2024