The History of Modern Painting, Volume 3 (of 4): Revised edition continued by the author to the end of the XIX century

"The History of Modern Painting, Volume 3 (of 4)" by Richard Muther is an art history text written in the early 20th century. This volume continues the exploration of modern painting movements and artists, with a focus on the development of realism in England, Germany, and the influence of Japanese art on Impressionism. The book likely discusses notable painters like Edward Burne-Jones, Holman Hunt, and Adolf Menzel, along with the broader cultural and artistic trends that shaped their work. The opening portion of this volume delves into the emergence of pre-Raphaelitism in England during the mid-19th century, illustrating how a group of young artists sought to revive a more authentic representation of nature and human emotion in their art. It critiques the prevailing historical and genre painting styles that had become detached from true artistic expression, pointing to figures like William Dyce and the founding of the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Holman Hunt, and John Everett Millais. Through their commitment to realism and truthfulness, the pre-Raphaelites aimed to break away from the conventions of the past and establish a new artistic identity that reflected contemporary life and emotional depth.