John Everett Millais
It's time for an absolute classic.
Ophelia is one of the most famous Pre-Raphaelite paintings. It shows the dramatic demise of Ophelia from Shakespeare's Hamlet, where she succumbs to a stream.
The model for this painting was 19-year-old Elizabeth Siddall, discovered in a hat shop by Walter Deverell, an American Pre-Raphaelite. She later married Dante Gabriel Rossetti, a friend of Millais, in 1860. But before this happened, Millais wanted to have a scene that was as realistic as possible. Elizabeth posed in a water-filled bath to simulate Ophelia's drowning, with oil lamps underneath for warmth. On one occasion, the lamps were extinguished unnoticed by Millais, deeply absorbed in his work, which didn't help Elizabeth's health. The woman, during these sessions, endured a severe cold and fell ill. Without a public health system or easy access to medicine, she was cared for by a private doctor, initially financed by her father. Eventually, Millais was instructed to cover the medical bills, which he settled, and Elizabeth quickly recovered.
The work encountered a mixed response when first exhibited at the Royal Academy, but has since come to be admired as one of the most important works of the mid-19th century for its beauty, its accurate depiction of a natural landscape, and its influence on other artists.
P.S. Today's painting is really one of the most renowned in the world; check out our selections of the most famous paintings printed on postcards!
P.P.S. This wasn't the only time John Everett Millais was inspired by the most famous English playwright. Here are Millais' nine mysterious Shakespeare paintings! For more Pre-Raphaelite art, see the articles below.