Millais's Ophelia: Victorian Beauty and Tragedy
John Everett Millais's 'Ophelia' (1851–1852) exemplifies Pre-Raphaelite ideals, blending literature and painting. The work depicts Shakespeare's Ophelia from Hamlet, floating in a river after a broken heart. Millais, born in Southampton in 1829, painted with meticulous detail and vibrant colors, often en plein air. The model was Elizabeth Siddal, a painter and poet who posed for months in a bathtub lit by candles, contracting bronchitis. Siddal, later wife of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, became a muse for the Brotherhood. The painting's symbolism—weeping willow, robin, May rose—foreshadows Ophelia's death and Siddal's own premature demise. The article, by Alejandra Schettino for MIfacciodiCultura, explores the hypnotic blend of pain and beauty.
Key facts
- John Everett Millais painted Ophelia between 1851 and 1852.
- Millais was born in Southampton on June 8, 1829, and died in London on August 13, 1896.
- Ophelia is based on Shakespeare's character from Hamlet.
- Elizabeth Siddal posed as Ophelia, immersing in a bathtub for months.
- Siddal contracted bronchitis during the sessions.
- Siddal was a painter, poet, and wife of Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
- The painting features symbolic flowers: weeping willow, robin, May rose.
- The article was written by Alejandra Schettino for MIfacciodiCultura.
Entities
Artists
- John Everett Millais
- Elizabeth Siddal
- Dante Gabriel Rossetti
- William Shakespeare
- Alejandra Schettino
Institutions
- MIfacciodiCultura
- Artspecialday
Locations
- Southampton
- London
- England
- Thames