Ford Madox Brown (1821-1893) was born and educated abroad. He settled in London in 1844 and took part in a competition to choose artists to paint murals in the new Houses of Parliament. This, and a visit to Rome (in 1845-1846) led him to change his style. As well as seeing Italian art, he saw that of the Nazarenes, a group of German artists resident in Rome who had formed the Brotherhood of St. Luke. They aimed to paint religious works in the pure style of early Renaissance.

By 1848, Brown, back in London, was attempting a clear, realistic style with daylight effects and delicate fresco-like colouring. Rossetti became his pupil for a short time and they remained friends. Brown became a major Pre-Raphaelite figure though not a member of the original Brotherhood.