pre-Raphaelites initial research and development

key names-
william holman hunt
john everett millais
dante gabriel rossetti

Ophelia, was a potential wife from the Shakespeare play Hamlet.
in the pre-Raphaelites composition each flower portrays a specific meaning for example: the weeping willow which is leaning represents forsaken love, the crow flower means childishness, the nettles that are growing around the willow tree branches mean pain, the daisies floating near aphelia's right hand represent innocence. Ophelia also mentions 'theres a daisy' in act IV, scene. the pansies represent thought and love in vain.
the model for the painting was lizzy sidle
lizzy sidle was considered a witch at the time due to her ginger hair and green eyes, much like elizibeth the first.
lizzy in later life committed suicide but was a conspiracy in whether in fact she was actually killed. to many peoples belief she intact over dosed on laudanum which was essentially opium. up until the 20th century this drug was sold on shelves but now is considered as addictive.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laudanum

Rossetti-
known as the flamboyant, good looking, almost playboy essc figure in the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood. Rossetti and Sidle almost married many times in her life

Ruskin-
was a pre-raphaelite supporter. he was painted by Millais first in his house with one of his feet on the bottom of his step and then the background was then painted after.

Millais-
mid way through painting Ruskin, Millais basically had a affair with Ruskins wife. So it was said that at the start of the painting Millais was painting Ruskin at the bottom of the stairs and by the end he was painting from the top of the stairs.

Turner-
a famous landscape artist who's got a award named after him. who hated the thoughts and work of the pre-Raphaelites. a art critic and writer who shared this opinion was charles dickens.
Ruskin was also a key advertiser almost and supporter of turners work even though he avidly supported the brotherhood.

William Morris-
a very famous interior designer from the 18th century. his work is still used a key influence even now. very was is now known as traditional british designs, examples are prints flowers, plants Rossetti also had an affair with his wife but due to Rosseti's significance and almost VIP essc personality Morris drew a blind eye to it. he was also a member of the arts and crafts movement.