The Pre-Raphaelite Podcast

A huge welcome back to Hannah Squire and Helen Bratt-Wyton from Wightwick Manor which is currently home to the wonderful 'The Rossettis: Siblings and Spouses' exhibition. From a secret apartment, Helen and Hannah share the story of the exhibition and the remarkable way in which it was collected and curated entirely from Wightwick's own collection. Exploring deep family dynamics connections and col...

It is a pleasure to welcome the incredible singer-songwriter Paris Paloma to the podcast. Paris takes us on a tour of her creative inspirations which are rooted in art, literature, history and myth but her music addresses contemporary concerns around the voice of women, invisible labour and the loss of what might have been. Filled with folklore, fantasy and the darker side of desire and beauty, Pa...

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 b...

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 embroide...

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 episo...

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...

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 pioneerin...

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 tick...

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...

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, a...

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 members...

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, y...

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...

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 th...

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...

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...

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 Avan...

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. ...

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-raphaelitesoc...

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 subscri...

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 g...

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...

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...

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 T...