England. British art boasts a rich tapestry of styles and themes throughout its long history.
Medieval art, from the 5th to the 15th century, was dominated by religious themes. Art served to glorify God and educate the largely illiterate population.
Illuminated manuscripts, stained glass windows, and frescoes adorned churches and monasteries. In the 16th century the Tudors embraced the Renaissance ideals of humanism and realism.
Portraits became increasingly prominent, celebrating royalty and nobility. In the 17th century the Stuarts continued the tradition of portraiture, with artists like Van Dyck influencing British styles.
Starting in the 18th century, the Georgian era saw a rise in neoclassicism, with artists like Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough creating grand portraits and historical scenes inspired by Greek and Roman art. At the end of the 18th century a reaction to the constraints of neoclassicism, Romanticism, emphasized emotion, imagination, and the natural world. Artists like J.M.W. Turner and John Constable captured the drama and beauty of landscapes. In the 19th century the Victorians embraced social and industrial progress, reflected in art that depicted historical events, scientific discoveries, and moral narratives. Pre-Raphaelitism, a movement that sought to revive the detail and religious devotion of early Renaissance art, also emerged during this period. The 2
Medieval art, from the 5th to the 15th century, was dominated by religious themes. Art served to glorify God and educate the largely illiterate population.
Illuminated manuscripts, stained glass windows, and frescoes adorned churches and monasteries. In the 16th century the Tudors embraced the Renaissance ideals of humanism and realism.
Portraits became increasingly prominent, celebrating royalty and nobility. In the 17th century the Stuarts continued the tradition of portraiture, with artists like Van Dyck influencing British styles.
Starting in the 18th century, the Georgian era saw a rise in neoclassicism, with artists like Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough creating grand portraits and historical scenes inspired by Greek and Roman art. At the end of the 18th century a reaction to the constraints of neoclassicism, Romanticism, emphasized emotion, imagination, and the natural world. Artists like J.M.W. Turner and John Constable captured the drama and beauty of landscapes. In the 19th century the Victorians embraced social and industrial progress, reflected in art that depicted historical events, scientific discoveries, and moral narratives. Pre-Raphaelitism, a movement that sought to revive the detail and religious devotion of early Renaissance art, also emerged during this period. The 2
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