Spirituality, Feminism, and Pre-Raphaelitism in Modern British Art and Culture

This book proposes new understandings of modern life in Britain by bringing constructs of female spirituality centre stage and examining three 'forgotten' artists identified with the Pre-Raphaelites and Victorianism.
Thomas Cooper Gotch, Robert Anning Bell and Frederick Cayley Robinson are resituated squarely within the tumultuous social and cultural changes of the period. Becoming visible again, in more inclusive histories, allows such artists not only to re-inhabit but to reshape narratives of modernism, reanimating the scholarly discourse and creating a dynamic cultural history of modern Britain expressed through their striking visions of womanhood.
This book will be of interest to scholars in art history, gender studies and British studies.

List of contents

1. 'The Potent Suggestion of a Spiritual Force': Feminism, Pre-Raphaelitism, the Late Nineteenth-Century 'Gender Crisis' and the Forgotten Paintings of Thomas Cooper Gotch 2. 'Out into the Sun': Amazons, Suffragettes and Women Outdoors, with Reference to Paintings by Robert Anning Bell 3. Frederick Cayley Robinson, a Forgotten Modern British Artist: Modernity, Symbolist Interiors and Spiritual Viewing 4. Frederick Cayley Robinson: Modern Life, Spiritual Expectancy and 'The Face of a Woman'

About the author

Alice Eden is a cultural historian, writer and curator.

Product details

• Authors: Alice Eden
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 26.12.2025
• EAN: 9781032747620
• ISBN: 978-1-032-74762-0
• No. of pages: 220
• Illustrations: schwarz-weiss Illustrationen, farbige Illustrationen, Raster,schwarz-weiss, Raster, farbig
• Series: British Art: Histories and Interpretations since 1700
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > Art history; Sociology, European History, ART / Subjects & Themes / Portraits, The arts: general issues, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Women's Studies, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Gender Studies, ART / History / General, HISTORY / Modern / 19th Century, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Feminism & Feminist Theory, ART / Popular Culture, HISTORY / Women, History of art & design styles: c 1800 to c 1900, History of Art, British & Irish history, History of art & design styles: from c 1900 -, Feminism & feminist theory, Regional Studies, HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / General, Regional / International studies, Gender studies: women, British Isles, Feminism and feminist theory, Gender studies: women and girls, Modern Period, C 1500 Onwards, HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century / General, The arts: general topics, ART / European / General, ART / Movements / Modernism, ART / Techniques / Painting / General