Victorian Age

History of Victorian Period

The Victorian age is generally agreed to stretch through the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). It was an exciting period when many artistic styles, literary schools, as well as, social, political and religious movements thrived. It was a time of prosperity, wide-ranging imperial expansion, and great political reform. It was also a time, which today we associate with "prudishness" and "oppression". Without a doubt, it was an extraordinarily complex age, that has sometimes been called the Second English Renaissance. It is also the beginning of Modern Times. The Victorian age also marked the height of the British Industrial Revolution and the apex of the British Empire.

The social classes of England were newly reforming, and fomenting. There was a churning turmoil of the old hierarchical order, and the middle classes were steadily growing. The upper classes' composition was changing from simply hereditary aristocracy to a combination of nobility and an emerging wealthy commercial class. Conditions of the working class were still bad, nut during the century, three reform bills eventually gave the vote to most males over the age of twenty-one. Distinct to that was the horrible reality of child labor which persisted throughout the period.

The Victorian Era was also a time of tremendous scientific progress and ideas. Darwin took his Voyage of the Beagle, and came up with the Theory of Evolution. The Great Exhibition of 1851 took place in London, landing the technical and industrial advances of the age, and advances in medicine and the physical sciences continued throughout the century. The radical thought associated with modern psychiatry began with men like Sigmund Feud toward the end of the era, and radical economic theory, developed by Karl Marx and his associates, began a second age of revolution in mid-century. The ideas of Marxism, socialism, feminism agitated along with all else that happened.

Artistic movement and fashion was an exciting subject too. I will explain this in their correct sections.

ART

Decoration

Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its diverse revival. It is also known for the interpretation of historic styles. It influenced the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior decoration. In the late Victorian period the Arts and Crafts movement, the aesthetic movement, Anglo-Japanese style, and Art Nouveau style meaning "new art" have their beginnings.

The Arts and Crafts Movement and William Morris

William Morris was involved with Victorian art and architecture. He never did art or architecture himself, but he took part in influencing the people around him. Morris and his artist friends Rossetti and Burne-Jones were at the forefront of the movement known as "Arts and Crafts Movement". Part political manifesto, part social movement, with a large spoonful of nostalgia thrown in, the Arts and Crafters wanted a return to high quality materials and hand-made excellence in all fields of art and decoration.

The cheap, mass-produced building and decorating materials then available horrified them. Morris himself, through his Morris and Co., designed furniture, textiles, wallpaper, decorative glass, and murals. Many of Morris' designs are still popular today.

Extravagant art

Most popular architectural styles like Tudor, medieval, and Italianate were rejected. Houses were often large, and terribly inconvenient to live in. The early Victorians had a preference for very intricate details and decoration. Some examples of large Victorian houses are Highclere Castle (Hampshire) and Kelham Hall (Nottinghamshire).

The Gothic Revival

In reaction to the classical style of the previous century, the Victorian age saw a return to traditional British styles in building, Tudor and mock-Gothic being the most popular. The Gothic Revival, was part withdrawn from the mass produced repetitiveness of the Industrial Revolution. It was a romantic longing for the traditional, comforting past. The Gothic Revival was led by John Ruskin, who, though not himself an architect, had huge influence as a successful writer and philosopher.

Victorian Music

Some famous composers during the Victorian period included: Michael W. Balfe, Sir Edward Elgar, Edward German, Richard Strauss, and Sir Arthur Sullivan. These men generally worked operas and composed symphonies. Some genres were Melodrama, Burlesque, Fairy Plays, Middle Class Satire, The Music Hall Opera, Pantomime, Tragedy, and Dramatic adaptations of Victorian Fiction.

Literature

Victorian literature forms a link and transition between the writers of the romantic period and the very different literature of the 20th century.

The 19th