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6 Episodes 1975 - 1975
Episode 1
Frustrated by their attempts to make it as artists among the established order of the Royal Academy, a group of friends decide to form a new art movement that will shake the foundations of the art world, creating the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood movement. But amid early struggles, some would endure tragedy and others scandal as they make their way in the world.
Episode 2
As the Brotherhood set out to make it in the art world, John Holman Hunt finds himself falling for Annie Miller, the young woman he rescued from poverty as he uses her as his muse for his work. Dante Gabriel Rossetti is also in a relationship with his muse, Lizzie Siddell, as he begins to find success, but is stunned to learn that Lizzie also wishes to make it as an artist. And John Everett Millais earns a lucrative contract to paint art critic John Ruskin's portrait. But while he stays with Ruskin he gradually finds himself falling in love with his wife Effie, risking his career and scandal.
Episode 3
John Holman Hunt returns from the Holy Land, where he learns from Frederick Stephens that Annie - who Hunt has been paying to have lessons to be a lady - has been having a relationship with Rossetti and is now his model. Hunt's effort to reconcile with Annie struggle with his refusal to marry her, while he also struggles to make ground in the art world until he encounters a wealthy benefactor in Thomas Combe. Meanwhile Millais and Effie are now married, but his career could yet be ruined by Effie's disgruntled ex husband John Ruskin. And Millais' attempts to move away from the pre-Raphaelite style threatens his friendship with his fellow artists.
Episode 4
Rossetti's art school flourishes, as does his career as he gains two important pupils to his school in William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones. However while Rossetti's career rises, his lover Lizzie's health declines, becoming depressed with his refusal to marry her. And when Rossetti has a chance meeting with a young woman called Jane Burden while in Oxford doing a commission at an university, their lives become further complicated when William Morris also falls for her, eventually leading to unforeseen tragedy for one member of the group.
Episode 5
Rossetti struggles to deal with the death of Lizzie and turns to drink as his work begins to suffer. He now has a new muse living with him, Fanny Corforth, but lacking in inspiration turns to photography to make his living. He persuades Jane - now married to William Blake - to pose for him and continues his affair with her, despite Blake's volatile nature. But one night he has a disturbing dream involving Lizzie and decides he needs to publish his book of poems - unfortunately he buried them with her in her coffin.
Episode 6
Rossetti is now staying with William and Jane Blake at their country home, but the situation isn't perfect. Rossetti still pines for Jane, while William's unpredictable nature makes for a uncomfortable atmosphere. Blake refuses to accept his wife's concerns for their daughter Jenny after she finds her fitting in the garden, while his sudden interest in politics and socialism eventually drives a wedge between the old friends. As William begins to carve out a second career in politics and meet influential friends, Rossetti sinks further into drink and drug addiction before he decides he can take no more and leaves their home for good, sealing his fate in the process.