Ophelia (painting)
Ophelia is an 1851–1852 oil painting by Sir John Everett Millais, one of the best-known works of the Pre-Raphaelite movement.
Ophelia is an 1851–1852 oil painting by Sir John Everett Millais, one of the best-known works of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. It depicts Ophelia from Shakespeare’s Hamlet drowning in a stream, rendered with detailed naturalism and symbolic flowers.
What it is
The painting shows Ophelia moments before or during her drowning in a stream, based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It is one of the most famous visual depictions of the character and a major Pre-Raphaelite masterpiece.
Key details
Millais painted it between 1851 and 1852. The model was Elizabeth Siddal. The background was painted from life near the Hogsmill River in Surrey. The work is noted for its dense botanical detail and symbolic flowers, reflecting the Pre-Raphaelite emphasis on realism and literary subjects.
Where it is now
Ophelia is in the collection of Tate Britain in London. It was initially exhibited in 1852 and later became one of the best-known paintings in Tate’s collection, now widely considered a landmark of nineteenth-century British art.
In short
- Painted by Sir John Everett Millais between 1851–1852
- Depicts Ophelia from Shakespeare’s Hamlet drowning in a stream
- Model was Elizabeth Siddal; background painted near the Hogsmill River
- Held at Tate Britain, London; a defining Pre-Raphaelite work
Quick questions
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Sources
- Tate — https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/millais-ophelia-n01506/story-opheliaSupports: Artist, date, subject, model, Pre-Raphaelite context, and collection information.
- Google Arts & Culture — https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/ophelia-sir-john-everett-millais/-wGU6cT4JixtPA?hl=en&avm=2Supports: Subject, symbolism, model, date, medium, and location details.
- Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ophelia-painting-by-MillaisSupports: Date, artist, movement, and significance of the painting.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophelia_(Millais)Supports: Collection location, model, date, medium, dimensions, and stylistic context.
- Khan Academy — https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/becoming-modern/victorian-art-architecture/pre-raphaelites/a/sir-john-everett-millais-opheliaSupports: Pre-Raphaelite style and the painting’s significance.