The Pre-Raphaelite Podcast

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...

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 pan...

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 subs...

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-Raph...

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. See the 'King's Quair' screen here:...

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 throu...

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/  ...