Brotherhood of Ruralists
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Brotherhood of Ruralists is a British art group founded in 1975 to paint nature.
They are based in the West of England, and look to the precedent of the Pre-Raphaelites, and artists such as William Blake and Samuel Palmer. The Ruralists (as they are known for short) incorporate musical and literary influences including Shakespeare and Elgar. Their work is figurative with a strong adherence to 'traditional' skills. Painting in oil and watercolour predominate with mixed media assemblage, printmaking, ink and pencil drawing also being common.
Unlike the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, the group did not promote (nor adhere to) a manifesto. Each artist's own techniques and work remains diverse with a common evocation of a mystical response to the observance of nature and rural life. Some of their output is intensely personal and sometimes surrealist in arrangement.
The term Ruralist was coined by the author Laurie Lee, a supporter of the group since their inception.
The founding members were David Inshaw and three couples: Ann Arnold and Graham Arnold, Annie Ovenden and Graham Ovenden, Peter Blake and his then wife Jann Haworth.
After six years the group lost some of its members. By 1984 David Inshaw, Jann Haworth and Peter Blake had left. The remaining four members continue the group, sometimes joined by Blake. They maintain an exhibitions programme both in the West country and London, and are members of the Arts Club. They were guest artists at the Stuckists Real Turner Prize Show 2000.
Recent exhibitions have included work by both present and past members.
Graham Ovenden has aroused press controversy with his interest in Victorian nude child photography, and some paintings on like themes.
