The Pre-Raphaelite Podcast

It is a pleasure to welcome Lizzie Jacklin and Esme Whittaker to the podcast to discuss a fascinating new exhibition opening at the Laing Gallery on October 17th. This exhibition focuses on the intermedial relations between poetry and painting in Pre-Raphaelitism. Lizzie and Esme discuss this relationship, the process of putting the exhibition together and tease us with some of the works soon to be on display. 

For more information, please visit: https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/laing/whats-on/pre-raphaelites-art-and-poetry

It is a pleasure to welcome the wonderful Fiona Slattery Clark who is  Curator of Decorative Art for National Museums Liverpool. Fiona joins us to discuss her current exhibition 'May Morris: Crafting a Legacy'. This exhibition is a celebration of the wide-ranging creative output of Arts and Crafts designer and maker, May Morris, the younger daughter of William Morris. A vibrant display of embroideries, wallpapers, watercolour designs, costume and jewellery showcase her many talents. May Morris devoted her life to crafting a legacy which continues to inspire designers, makers and educators today.

It is a pleasure to welcome Alessia Attanasio and Vincenzo Pernice to the podcast to discuss the influence of Baroque art on the Pre-Raphaelites. Alessia and Vincenzo outline what we mean by Baroque art across Europe and in Britain, they explore the crucial missing centuries between the Pre-Raphaelites and their more obvious Renaissance and Medieval influences. A fascinating and enlightening episode which creates links that are not always apparent between artistic movements. 

An enormous welcome to both Cecelia Rose and Casey Maeve. Cecelia is a familiar voice to our long-term listeners and has now joined us on the wonderful podcast team. Her first guest is Casey Maeve, a PhD student at the University of Birmingham whose work focuses on nineteenth-century poetic depictions of Sappho. Casey explores the history of Sappho, her unique appeal to the Pre-Raphaelites and how this translated into the later Decadence and Aesthete movements by empowering and inspiring a new generation of both women and queer writers. 

It is a pleasure to welcome the wonderful Jane Robinson to the podcast to speak about the life and work of Barbara Bodichon. A true early trailblazer across a number of political rights movements, Bodichon's artistic style and collaborative, social networks are rooted in Pre-Raphaelitism. Jane traces Barbara's story, exploring her unique artistic style, Pre-Raphaelite friendships and her pioneering political works. 

To find out more about Jane's work, please visit : https://www.jane-robinson.com/books.html 

We are delighted to welcome Glenda Youde and Steve Kenyon who join us to share the details of a new Blue Plaque being unveiled in Matlock, Derbyshire. Celebrating the long stay of Dante Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal in Lime Tree View, Glenda and Steve tell us about their time in Matlock and the fascinating history of the property. Please join them for the grand reveal on the 9th May 2026. For tickets, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dante-gabriel-rossetti-and-elizabeth-siddal-in-matlock-tickets-1984180310722 

We are pleased to welcome Bill Toomey, Daniel Sutherland and Carol Jacobi from the Whistler Society to explore the extraordinary life and works of James McNeill Whistler. Instrumental in the shift towards Aestheticism, Whistler was always remarkably forward thinking, ahead of his time and radical in his approach to art. This episode precedes a major retrospective on Whistler opening at the Tate in May. 

To find out more, please visit: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/whistler 

March is Morris Month. To celebrate, we are delighted to welcome Gabriella Esser and Vanessa Manson from The William Morris Society to share the life and legacies of Morris. Gabriella and Vanessa tell us about a busy March, filled with activities, talks and events, many of which are accessible online. To find out more about Morris Month, The William Morris Society, their events and charity work, as well as their education outreach and travelling exhibitions, please visit:

https://williammorrissociety.org/morris-month/

https://williammorrissociety.org/ 

To follow The William Morris Society on so...

A huge welcome and congratulations to the wonderful Dr Alex Round. A familiar voice to you all, Dr Alex has now completed her PhD and joins us today to discuss her research, interrogate the term sisterhood and share some tips for studying a PhD in Pre-Raphaelite studies. On behalf of the Podcast team and The Pre-Raphaelite Society, a huge congratulations and thank you for all the work that you do.

It is a pleasure to welcome back the wonderful Cecelia Rose to share her research around John William Waterhouse's likely membership of The Golden Dawn, a secret society formed in the late nineteenth-century. Cecelia explains how the Golden Dawn was linked to many artists and literary figures at the time and shows us a number of hidden clues and symbols in Waterhouse's art pointing towards membership. 

A wonderful, warm welcome to the poet Sarah James who joins our guest presenter Sarah Doyle to discuss her latest publication 'Darling Blue'. Sarah shares her creative journey and poetic processes as well as discussing some of the paintings that have inspired her poetry. 'Darling Blue' is available now, please visit: https://www.sarah-james.co.uk/?page_id=17191 to find out more and order a copy, you will not be disappointed. 

It is a pleasure to welcome back the wonderful scholar and novelist Mercedes Aguirre to look at her latest work 'La muerte de una madrasta' which translate to 'The Death of a Stepmother'. While only available in Spanish at present, Mercedes' novel is a nineteenth century, crime-fiction retelling of the myths of Phaedra, Hippolytus and Theseus. Mercedes' work frequently interweaves her expertise in nineteenth century British art with Greek mythology. 

To find out more please visit: 

It is a pleasure to welcome Lizzie Broadbent to the podcast to discuss her research project 'Women Who Meant Business' which focuses on the commercial and business aspects of women's lives in the nineteenth century. Lizzie explores the roles of a number of women within the Pre-Raphaelite and Arts and Crafts movements from a business perspective, showing how many were successful entrepreneurs in their own right and how progress in this area may not be as linear as we think. 

To find out more about Lizzie's project, please visit: https://womenwhomeantbusiness.substack.com/about

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It is a pleasure to welcome the wonderful Edith Charlesworth to the podcast to talk about her research into a series of hidden De Morgan panels. Once a bright, vibrant and gleaming gold, the panels are now somewhat neglected, decontextualised and forgotten. Edith explains the history and connections between De Morgan, Stanhope and the wider Pre-Raphaelite movement with Cawthorne, whilst explaining the importance of the panels and passionately appealing for their restoration. 

To find out more, please visit: 

https://www.instagram.com/edith.charlesworth?igsh=M3RkYTh2M3A0anF2

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It is a pleasure to welcome the wonderful comedian and art historian Verity Babbs to the podcast. Verity's book 'The History of Art in One Sentence' is released this week in all bookshops everywhere, reputable, or otherwise. Verity talks us through the creation of this impressive book, the interweaving of comedy and history and some of the less serious takes on Pre-Raphaelitism art history.

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the maintenance of this podcast are gratefully received:

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A huge welcome back to the podcast for John Reed who joins us today to discuss his brilliant new PhD project. John's work examines how exhibitions of Pre-Raphaelite art shapes the narratives and critical reputations built up around the Pre-Raphaelites. John discusses a range of critical theory that has been applied to this art from earlier 1980's exhibitions, through the era of the 'Victorian Avant-Garde' up to the recent 'Victorian Radicals' exhibition. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the main...

We are delighted to welcome Cecilia Neil-Smith to the podcast to talk about her fantastic work on depictions of mermaids and sirens within Pre-Raphaelite art. Cecilia plunges the aquatic depths of Burne-Jones, de Morgan and Waterhouse, showing how the mermaid has transformed from an ancient and medieval symbol to a challenge for Victorian conceptions of gender, sexuality, conformity and biology. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the maintenance of this podcast are gratefully received:

https://gofund.me/60a58f...

A huge congratulations on behalf of the Pre-Raphaelite Society and the Podcast team to Dr Ester Diaz Morillo on the completion of her viva! In this episode, Karl chats to Ester about her graduation, research journey and some of the amazing musical and visual adaptions compiled in the process. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the maintenance of this podcast are gratefully received:

https://gofund.me/60a58f68 

Once again we are delighted to welcome Amy Lim to the podcast. Today, Amy puts on another of her hats to talk to us about the history of Buscot Park and its fascinating links to Burne-Jones and the Pre-Raphaelites. Currently the home of Lord Faringdon, Buscot Park also houses an impressive number of artworks including Burne-Jones' incredible Briar Rose series.

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the maintenance of this podcast are gratefully received:

https://gofund.me/60a58...

We are delighted to welcome Karen Livingstone to the Podcast to discuss her latest work 'Women Pioneers of the Arts and Crafts Movement'. Karen talks to us about the research and difficult selection process involved in creating such a wonderful book. She also shares with us how the Arts and Crafts movement contributed and responded to the shifting societal roles and status of women. The movement gave options for creativity and employability and affirmed many artists' involvement in the suffrage cause. 

It is a pleasure to welcome Andreane Rellou and Tessa Battaiotto to the podcast to talk about their impressive new film project 'The Three Graces'. Centred around the lives and works of Marie Spartali Stillman, Maria Zambaco and Aglaia Coronio the film aims to capture the hidden stories that deserve to be told. Andreane and Tess share their research journey into the Pre-Raphaelite links to Greece and tell us much more about these three remarkable women. 

To get involved with the project, please visit their Kickstarter and donate: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1150236981/the-three-graces-a-victorian-short-film 

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A huge welcome to the wonderful researcher, gallery guide and PhD student Laure Nermel. Laure joins us to discuss her work into Elizabeth Siddall's creative agency alongside the myth-making and various reimagining's that go along with the Siddall story. Laure also offers us a unique insight into how Pre-Raphaelitism was, and is, received across the channel in France. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the maintenance of this podcast are gratefully received:

https://gofund.me/60a58f68 

It is a pleasure to welcome the wonderful writer and actress Claire Parker to discuss her latest project 'The Vegan Tigress' based on the fairy tales of Mary De Morgan. Claire tells us about the fascinating political and spiritual life and writings of Mary De Morgan as well as what we can expect from her excellent new play. 'The Vegan Tigress' opens on the 18th of February at the Bread and Roses Theatre, Clapham. To find out more and buy tickets, please visit: https://app.lineupnow.com/event/the-vegan-tigress 

For more information and to subscribe to...

It is a pleasure to welcome art specialist and gallery owner Rupert Maas to the podcast. Rupert tells us about his lifelong love of Pre-Raphaelite drawing and shares the stories of some of the wonderful works that have passed through the Maas Gallery. The Master Drawings Fair in New York opens to the public on February 1st and the Maas Gallery will be participating for the first time since the pandemic. 

To find out more please visit: https://www.maasgallery.co.uk/master-drawings-new-york-2025/ 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre...

Welcome back to The Pre-Raphaelite Society's poet-in-residence Sarah Doyle for an incredible selection of Pre-Raphaelite poetry from the bleak mid-winter long, long ago. Icy blasts, warm fires and snow on snow on snow all remind us that there are no flowers without rain. This completes our seasonal poetry series, but I am sure Sarah Doyle will return again soon. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the maintenance of this podcast are gratefully received:

https://gofund.me/60a58f68 

Happy New Year to all our listeners. To start 2025, it is a pleasure to welcome Dr Eliza Goodpasture, Dr Lucy Ella Rose and Dr Catia Rodriguez to the podcast for a special, roundtable episode on women's friendship networks within, and around, the Pre-Raphaelites. Eliza, Lucy, Catia and Alex discuss the professional, personal, public and social relationships of women from the early days of Pre-Raphaelitism into the fin de siècle and discuss the importance of women's networks and friendships as an emerging area of scholarship. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, plea...

We are pleased to welcome Emily Learmont to discuss the legacy of William Bell Scott and the Scottish connections with Pre-Raphaelitism. Today, the Scottish Colletion of the National Galleries of Scotland reopens with Bell Scotts 'King's Quair' screen going on display for the first time since 1968. Emily tells us the fascinating story of this incredible object.

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

It is a pleasure to welcome back Dr Christina Bradstreet, joined by Antje Kiewel to talk about an innovative, olfactory exhibition currently showing at the Barber Institute in Birmingham. This immersive, multi-sensory exhibition focuses on the theme of scent in Pre-Raphaelite painting and makes use of bespoke fragrances to enhance and enliven the works on display. Christina and Antje talk us through this incredible journey. 

To find out more, please visit the Barber Institute online here: https://barber.org.uk/scent-and-pre-raphaelites/

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, ple...

A huge welcome back to the podcast to Sarah Hardy, current chair of the De Morgan Foundation. Sarah joins both Alex and Hannah to talk about the incredible exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, a recreation of De Morgan's 1907 solo show. Sarah explains why this is such a fascinating, and important, exhibition.

To find out more, please visit:

https://www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/whats-on/edm/

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the maintenance of this...

A welcome return for The Pre-Raphaelite Society's poet-in-residence Sarah Doyle for a wonderful selection of Pre-Raphaelite poetry based around the heady, spooky, bitter-sweet season of Autumn. Haunted forests, bonfires, creaking trees and the threat of cold days ahead from Christina and Dante Rossetti, William Morris, Elizabeth Siddall and A.C. Swinburne as well Sarah's own excellent compositions. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the maintenance of this podcast are gratefully received:

https://gofund.me/60a58f68 

It is a pleasure to welcome Raphaël Neal to the podcast to talk about his amazing photography project inspired by the 'stunners' of Pre-Raphaelitism. Raphaël's work is quite extraordinary and we encourage all listeners to visit the following link for a sneak preview of his project: https://www.raphaelneal.com/prs 

In the episode, we discuss his Pre-Raphaelite interests and photographic inspirations, the male-gaze, the male as 'muse' and the inherent beauty in the everyday. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre...

It is a pleasure to welcome back Rocio Moyano Rejano for another fascinating insight into one of Shakespeare's heroines. This time, we are exploring Miranda and her appeal to Pre-Raphaelite artists, most notably Waterhouse and his two famous depictions which imitate the two popular Victorian conceptions of womanhood. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the maintenance of this podcast are gratefully received:

https://gofund.me/60a58f68 

It is a pleasure to welcome John Holmes to the podcast to talk about his incredible work in exploring the overlaps and mutual engagements between the Pre-Raphaelites and Science. From direct involvement in the creating of Oxford's natural history museum to informing twenty-first century discussion around ecological crises, John Holmes discusses how the the Pre-Raphaelites were shaped by, and continue to shape, scientific discourse and practice. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the maintenance of this podcast are gratefully rece...

An enormous welcome back for The Pre-Raphaelite Society's poet-in-residence Sarah Doyle for a selection of charming Pre-Raphaelite poetry based around the Summer season. Expect hot, heavy imagery and fragrant floral blooms from Dante and Christina Rossetti, William Morris and A.C. Swinburne as well as one of Sarah's own excellent compositions. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the maintenance of this podcast are gratefully received:

https://gofund.me/60a58f68 

It is a pleasure to welcome Sara Atwood and Gabriel Meyer from The Ruskin Art Club (founded 1888!) to discuss the life, works and legacy of the great John Ruskin. Sara and Gabriel discuss the long-lasting impact Ruskin's work has had on art and culture, as well as his considerable influence on the Pre-Raphaelites. 

To find out more please visit:

https://ruskinartclub.org/ 

https://www.youtube.com/@ruskinartclub

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the m...

It is a pleasure to welcome Dr Caroline Kaye to the podcast to discuss Holman Hunt's iconic 'The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple'. Speaking of the depth of colour, religious symbolism and the crowded use of space, Caroline shows us how Holman Hunt's work has striking parallels with Renaissance works such as Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper'. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the maintenance of this podcast are gratefully received:

https://gofund.me/60a58f68 

It is a pleasure to welcome the Pre-Raphaelite Society's own Tim McGee to the Podcast. Many of you will know Tim for his incredible graphic design work on the Pre-Raphaelite Society's website and elsewhere. Today, Tim is here to talk to us about his incredible letter collection. As well as delving into his personal archive of Pre-Raphaelite letters, Tim shares helpful tips for those starting out in the hobby and discusses the history and importance of letter collecting. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

It is a pleasure to welcome Dr Melanie Rose and John Reed to the Podcast to talk about an upcoming exhibition on the underappreciated but talented and varied artist Fred Appleyard. Melanie and John explore the life and career of Appleyard as he transitioned from late Pre-Raphaelitism into early-English Impressionism. The exhibition aims to raise the awareness of Appleyard and demonstrate this transition across his career.

To find out more about Fred Appleyard and the upcoming exhibition please visit: 

We are delighted to welcome D M Denton (Diane) to the podcast to talk about her latest novel 'The Dove Upon Her Branch: ​A Novel Portrait ​ of Christina Rossetti'. Diane discusses the research processes involved in writing historical novels while trying to convey the true story of a person that has often been overlooked in media adaptions of Pre-Raphaelite stories. 

To find out more about D M Denton's work please visit: www.dmdenton-author-artist.com 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

It feels like Spring has finally sprung, the sun is out and May Day has been and gone. This means that it is the perfect time to welcome back Pre-Raphaelite Society's poet-in-residence Sarah Doyle for something a little different. Sarah reads a selection of Pre-Raphaelite poetry based around the theme of Spring and one her own excellent compositions. If you like this episode, we will make it a seasonal feature. 

For more information and to subscribe to the Pre-Raphaelite Society, please visit www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org 

All donations towards the maint...