Pre-Raphaelitism. Women's Journeys (1850-1914) in Madrid

Fundación Mapfre presents a major exhibition dedicated to highlighting the work of women artists linked to British Pre-Raphaelitism between the 19th and early 20th centuries. 🎨🖼️

Contrasting with the strictly male membership of the original Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, numerous women embraced its reforming vision and challenged academic restrictions.

🎨 Pre-Raphaelitism. Women's Journeys (1850-1914)

📅 From October 27, 2026 to January 10, 2027

🕐 Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 20:00, Monday from 14:00 to 20:00, Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 to 19:00

📍 Fundación Mapfre, Madrid

🎟️ 5 €

📖 Pre-Raphaelite art through its women creators

Structured across nine sections, the exhibition brings together works by Joanna Boyce, Elizabeth Siddal, Anna Mary Howitt, Marie Spartali Stillman, and Jemima Blackburn, alongside other figures whose artistic contributions began to be thoroughly studied in the late 20th century.

At a time when the Academy excluded women from anatomy and life-drawing classes, Pre-Raphaelite ideals offered an alternative grounded in everyday observations and creative freedom. From landscapes by Lady Waterford to devotional drawings by Eleanor Vere Boyle, the selection showcases their technical mastery.

The survey also highlights how these artists extended their practices into decorative arts, design, illustration, and photography, opening up new professional pathways throughout the turn of the century.

🏛️ Fundación Mapfre and artistic rediscovery

Although contemporary reception often undervalued their production as mere meticulous craft, these women continued developing independent bodies of work that eventually achieved recognition in prominent galleries.

✨ A unique opportunity to discover the decisive role of women in the Pre-Raphaelite movement.