The Art-Journal and Fine Art Publishing in Victorian England, 1850-1880

Drawing on art, literary, journalism, and publishing histories, this study argues that fine art practices of the Victorian period were influenced by the media culture of art publishing and journalism in formative ways, perhaps more than at any other time in the history of English art. The cultural phenomenon of the Art-Journal print is shown to be a key connector in the art appreciation of the era. This study also examines the important links between paint and print; the aesthetic values and domestic aspirations of the Victorian middle class; and the inextricable intertwining of fine art and 'trade' publishing.