Modern Painters, Old Masters: The Art of Imitation from the Pre-Raphaelites to the First World War

The book explores the impact of 19th-century museums and published reproductions on Victorian art, highlighting how British artists drew inspiration from Old Masters like Botticelli and Velázquez. Elizabeth Prettejohn examines the intricate relationship between imitation and originality, suggesting that the most innovative works emerged from faithful emulation of past art. Covering a range of artists from the Pre-Raphaelites to early modernists, it showcases how figures like Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Edward Burne-Jones engaged with historical art to create remarkable contributions to the period.