The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood formed in 1848. They developed their own unique style which reflected their concern with industrialization and the social, ethical, and moral problems it caused. They often chose subjects of contemporary life, highlighting these issues, and painted them in detail, flaws and all.

Their art was popular with British collectors and it was rare for the paintings to leave the UK, which is what makes the Bancroft Collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings in WIlmington, Delaware, USA, particularly special.

In this talk, Margaretta Frederick will discuss the highlights of the Bancroft Collection and explain how it came to be in Delaware.

Margaretta S. Frederick is the Annette Woolard-Provine Curator of the Bancroft Collection of Pre-Raphaelite Art at the Delaware Art Museum and has been integral to the Bancroft Collection for over twenty years, focusing on women within the Pre-Raphaelite circle, making additions to the permanent collection and curating exhibitions on women’s presence in Victorian art. She co-curated (with Jan Marsh) the first retrospective exhibition of the Pre-Raphaelite painter Marie Spartali Stillman (2015) and smaller exhibitions featuring May Morris and Barbara Bodichon. Future projects include, with Sarah Hardy, Curator, De Morgan Foundation Collection, an exhibition of the work of Evelyn and William De Morgan in fall 2022 with an accompanying book of essays (Yale University Press) and co-editing with Anna Mason the collected letters of May Morris.