Tuesday 21st July 2009

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt and John Millais declare their irreverent genius to the Victorian artistic establishment as frequently and as loudly as they can. Unfortunately for them, only one man seems to be listening. Fred Walters is a shy hanger-on who ingratiates himself with the Brotherhood by locating the "perfect model" – flame-haired Lizzie Siddal, a hat-shop assistant. Though none of them quite yet realise it, she is soon to be the most famous model in Britain.

Fred immediately falls in love with Lizzie, but he cannot compete with Rossetti's charisma and self-belief. Lizzie, meanwhile, begins to model first for the hard-working and pugnacious Hunt.

The boys' adventurous, anti-establishment style and choice of subject matter and model brings them to the notice of brilliant and influential art critic John Ruskin. Encouraged by Ruskin's interest, and still smarting over their rejection by the Royal Academy, the boys decide to mount an exhibition of their own. One step away from anonymity and poverty, they invite Ruskin in the hope of securing his approval, which is vital to launching them into a world of fame and fortune.

As they work towards each painting becoming a masterpiece for their make-or-break exhibition, they find themselves distracted by poverty, hunger, jealousy and lust.

Tuesday 28th July 2009

The most exciting young artists of their day, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, continue in their quest for credibility, celebrity and success this week, as this lively new drama for BBC Two, starring Aidan Turner, Rafe Spall, Samuel Barnett and Sam Crane and written by Peter Bowker, continues. With the help of their new friend, journalist Fred Walters, the group have caught the attention of the pre-eminent art critic of the day, John Ruskin, and now have to persuade him to buy their work.

The prodigious and impossibly talented John Millais sets about rustling up a "masterpiece" to show Ruskin. The work is Ophelia, and he chooses model Lizzie Siddal to sit for him. Rossetti, who is convinced that he is nothing without Lizzie as his muse, is furious with Millais for taking her from under his nose. Hunt, meanwhile, attempts a masterpiece of his own, with street girl Annie Miller once again sitting for him.

Having lost his virginity to Annie, Hunt remains unable to resist her charms and is cast into turmoil as he battles with his strong religious belief and conflicting sexual desire. Everything in the Brothers' world comes crashing to a halt, however, when Lizzie falls unconscious with pneumonia while posing as Ophelia in a bath of cold water – Millais, distracted by thoughts of Ruskin's beautiful young wife, Effie, had failed to notice Lizzie sinking into a decline. As Lizzie's life hangs in the balance, so does Millais's masterpiece – and, thereby, the Brotherhood's most promising chance of gaining recognition. However, Rossetti no longer cares about the future of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood as he contemplates a future without the woman he loves.

Tuesday 4th August 2009

John Millais, the youngest and most talented member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, delights in having landed the influential John Ruskin as his new patron. Millais's friends and fellow artists, Hunt and Rossetti, however, watch on with bitter envy as his star begins to rise.

It's not long, though, before Millais realises that Ruskin's patronage comes at a price. Ruskin insists that Millais paint his beautiful young wife, Effie. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Effie reveals to Millais that Ruskin cannot, or will not, consummate their marriage. Horrified, Millais realises what is expected of him – in return for Ruskin's patronage, he is to sleep with Ruskin's wife.

Rossetti immediately seizes the benefits of his friend's predicament. Millais, however, is crestfallen at the idea of sleeping with another man's wife, and the potential scandal that could ensue, and resolves to walk away from Ruskin and sacrifice a career opportunity of a lifetime. This proves harder than Millais imagined when he realises that he is in love with Effie.

Tuesday 11th August 2009

While Hunt is far away in the Holy Land, Fred endeavours to fulfil his promise to look after Annie and prevent her from getting up to mischief. Annie has an agenda of her own, however, and it's not long before Fred has been seduced by her charms. Hunt soon returns from the Holy Land – none the wiser about Annie and Fred's liaison. Ironically, Annie's improved self-control under Fred's care prompts Hunt to ask for her hand in marriage.

Rossetti, meanwhile, receives an encouraging visit from Ruskin who, with Millais no longer on his books, is looking for a new protégé. Rossetti is so excited by the prospect of Ruskin's patronage that he finally proposes to Lizzie.

However, in spite of newly-wed Millais's smug insistence that married life is the key to true happiness, both Hunt and Rossetti begin to waver at the prospect of what lies ahead. Fred looks on as his friends start to panic, while frantically concealing from Hunt his secret affair with Annie.

Tuesday 18th August 2009

Rossetti and Lizzie revel in their new-found status and wealth, acquired courtesy of Ruskin's generous patronage. Swept up in a whirlwind of late-night partying and debauchery they forget all about their art, including the commissions that they've promised to complete. Ruskin's displeasure at their antics prompts him to threaten withdrawal of his support unless Rossetti and Lizzie focus on their commitments.

While Lizzie is swift to obey Ruskin's orders, Rossetti, as usual, struggles to knuckle down. Instead he embarks on a raunchy affair with street girl, Fanny Cornforth. Fanny – unlike Lizzie – has a voluptuous beauty that inspires Rossetti to a new, richer and more sensual style of painting. Indeed, Fanny's unbridled hedonism, as opposed to Lizzie's tendency towards neurosis, seems to inspire a new lease of life in Rossetti altogether.

Rossetti receives further creative succour from his new young students, William Morris and Ned Burne-Jones, who offer their unadulterated worship and their much-needed assistance with a new commission for a church mural. While Rossetti enjoys himself, Lizzie, forever worried about losing him to another woman, struggles to keep her distance. It seems only a matter of time before she returns to find him in Fanny's arms...

Tuesday 25th August 2009

Rossetti and Lizzie return from their honeymoon, ready to settle into conventional married life. However, when Millais proposes the idea of an artistic colony for the Brotherhood and their wives, Rossetti is immediately attracted by the bohemian notion of group living. Lizzie – used to Rossetti's wandering eye – is less than enthusiastic.

True to form, within days of their return, Rossetti starts up a flirtation with William Morris's wife, Jane Burden. Ruskin also abandons Lizzie, withdrawing his support for her art. As her life seemingly spirals out of control, Lizzie turns to the highly potent narcotic, laudanum, to numb her pain.

Hunt, meanwhile, sets out to win back Annie Miller, hoping to persuade her to move into Millais's colony with him. He sends Fred to deliver his latest offer of marriage. Annie, unsurprisingly, has had enough of Hunt and tells Fred that she has no intention of accepting the proposal. Fred seizes his own chance of happiness and proposes to her himself, even though he's still in love with Lizzie. Annie laughs off the offer, leaving Fred humiliated and vowing, in future, to always tell the truth, no matter how brutal.

When Fred chooses the fragile Lizzie as a recipient of one of his home truths, little can he imagine the devastating consequences...