Nazarene

The Nazarene movement was a German Romantic art movement that arose in the early 19th century. It was formed by a group of young, idealistic artists who met at the Fine Arts Academy in Vienna around 1809. These artists sought to reform art by dedicating it to religious and moral purposes, distancing themselves from the prevalent Neoclassical style which they felt lacked spiritual depth. They were inspired by medieval and early Renaissance artworks, aiming to bring back the purity and devoutness they saw in these earlier works.

The Nazarenes adopted a simple, monastic lifestyle, which was also reflected in their mode of dress – long hair and biblical attire – leading to their derisive nickname. They moved to Rome, setting up in the convent of Saint Isidoro and worked on reviving fresco painting and focusing on historical and biblical scenes. The movement was influential in its time, even after the original group disbanded in the late 1820s, with many younger artists drawing inspiration from the Nazarenes. The movement's impact was particularly felt in the emergence of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in England, which similarly sought to return to a style of art that predated the High Renaissance.

Notable artists of the Nazarene movement include Friedrich Overbeck, who remained in Rome and led a significant workshop influencing many European painters, and Peter Cornelius, who carried on with fresco painting in Munich. The movement's legacy is one of honest expression in art and a demand for a return to artworks with religious and historical meaning.

For collectors, auctioneers, and experts in art and antiques, the Nazarene movement represents a pivotal moment in the history of art when artists actively rebelled against the contemporary norms to restore what they perceived as a more authentic and spiritual art.

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