John Everett Millais (1829-1896) was a distinguished English painter and illustrator, recognized as one of the founding members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Born in Southampton, Millais displayed an early aptitude for art, becoming the youngest student to enter the Royal Academy Schools at the age of eleven.
Millais, alongside Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Holman Hunt, established the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848. This movement sought a return to the artistic styles prevalent before the High Renaissance, as epitomized by Raphael. The Pre-Raphaelites championed intricate detail, bright colors, and compositions inspired by nature and medieval themes.
One of Millais’ most renowned works from this period is “Ophelia”, which captures the tragic heroine from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” floating in a stream, surrounded by a meticulously detailed natural environment. The piece exemplifies the Pre-Raphaelite emphasis on emotional intensity and precise depiction of nature.
As his career progressed, Millais transitioned away from the strict Pre-Raphaelite style, adopting a broader and more academic approach. His later works, such as “Bubbles”, were commercially successful but often garnered criticism from contemporaries for perceived superficiality.
Inspired by nature, literature, and medieval art, Millais’ early works are characterized by their luminous colors and romantic sensibilities. While the Pre-Raphaelite style can be seen echoed in the works of artists like Edward Burne-Jones and Ford Madox Brown, Millais’ own evolution as an artist saw him traverse a range of styles and subjects.
Concludingly, John Everett Millais remains a pivotal figure in 19th-century British art. As a co-founder of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, he helped champion a style that was at once revolutionary and deeply rooted in a reverence for the past. His oeuvre, diverse and expansive, offers a window into the aesthetic and cultural shifts of Victorian England.
Useful Links
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Everett_Millais
https://www.wikiart.org/en/john-everett-millais
