FURNITURE FULL OF PICTORIAL ART: A Brief History of Pre-Raphaelite Furniture with Alison Inglis

Alison Inglis will investigate the enthusiasm for Gothic Revival painted furniture in Britain during the mid–19th century. Her paper will focus on the work of the Pre-Raphaelite artists associated with the designers William Morris and William Burges.

Why was this furniture so popular? What were the subjects depicted on the various cabinets, wardrobes and chairs? And how influential were these very distinctive works of decorative art?

Alison Inglis is an internationally recognised specialist in British 19th century art. She also has a research interest in Australian art museums and the history of collecting and display in this country. She is currently researching a book on the circulation of works of art around the British Empire between 1850 – 1950.