Because of the way the Victorian society was growing, many artists were finding new subjects and ideas to express through art. Many people were becoming interested in art and this led to fantastic new arts and creations spreading through the Victorian period.
Around the 1830s and 40s photography was becoming increasingly popular and gave artists a new form of technology to use in their works. The new found technologies also allowed for artists to reproduce and make prints of their works so that normal families could have these pieces of art in their own homes and magazines and publications could share the work among readers. The industrial revolution was the perfect time for art to take off in Victorian Britain.
Pre-Raphaelites
A group of artists which included Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais and William Holman Hunt formed the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848. These artist strongly believed that art should convey moral messages, which they believed were long lost since the days of Raphael, a renaissance artist. They painted with amazing photographic detail which featured subjects from the Bible and Shakespeare among others.
Still Life
This form of art was becoming increasingly popular in the Victorian era with art photographers such as Julia Margaret Cameron creating dramatic imagery using strong tones of light and stage props. She was responsible for making art work of some of the leading Victorians of the time, with many of her works looking very theatrical.
The Arts and Crafts Movement
In the 1860s the Arts and Crafts Movement was formed by William Morris who was another Pre-Raphaelite. He believed that this new industrial revolution was making skilled craftsmen no longer needed. He wanted to see normal everyday items hand crafted and unique in style. He and his followers made designs inspired by middle age art, producing textiles, pottery and even wallpaper which would go on to be used in many homes and properties throughout Britain!