The Story Behind the Ophelia Painting (Updated in 2024)

The Ophelia painting is a famous work of art created by John Everett Millais between 1851 and 1852. The Royal Academy of Arts exhibited this painting for the first time in 1852. The Ophelia painting depicts the namesake character in a notable scene from the Shakespearean play, Hamlet. It’s a well-known piece not only because it depicts one of the greatest literary works but also because it’s considered an artistic and technical masterpiece.

So, why is Ophelia so famous? The artistry and intricate details in the painting with the drama that Shakespeare is known for are some reasons the painting is so famous, according to The Collector. Beyond the artistic mastery, the story behind the Ophelia painting also adds another depth to the artwork. The history, inspiration and symbolism of the Ophelia painting make this iconic work ever more interesting. Let’s dive into the Ophelia painting story, the history behind the artwork and how the painting was made. This guide is the story behind the famous Ophelia painting.

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• Who Painted the Ophelia Painting?
• What is the Ophelia Painting's Meaning & Inspiration?
• Who Was the Ophelia Painting's Model?
• What Was the Ophelia Painting's Medium, Materials & Technique?

Who Painted the Ophelia Painting?

The Ophelia painting was created by John Everett Millais. A titled Englishman, he was fully referred to as Sir John Everett Millais, 1st Baronet PRA. Millais was born into a wealthy family in Southampton, United Kingdom in 1829. His father, John William Millais, was from a wealthy Jersey family and his mother’s family were prosperous saddlers.

His privileged background allowed him to pursue the arts at a young age. In 1838, at age nine, he came to London and studied at Sass’s Art School. He then won a silver medal at the Society of Arts. In 1840, Millais became a child prodigy at the age of 11 and was the youngest student to attend the Royal Academy Schools. He won another silver medal in 1843 for his drawing and a gold medal in 1847 for his painting, “The Tribe of Benjamin Seizing the Daughters of Shiloh.” His first exhibition at the Royal Academy was in 1846 with the painting “Pizarro Seizing the Inca of Peru.” 

John Everett Millais became a painter and illustrator, painting many well-known works of art at the time. Millais was also one of the founders — along with William Holman Hunt and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who he met at the Royal Academy — of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

The art movement included English painters, art critics and poets and sought to create work with intricate detail, deep colors and complex compositions. The group took most of their inspiration from poses from Classical art, especially from Raphael paintings.

Millais’ first Pre-Raphaelite painting was “Isabella.” This painting exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1849. The next year, he exhibited “Christ in the House of His Parents (The Carpenter’s Shop),” though this painting was not well-received.

So, with influences of Classical art, is the Ophelia painting Romanticism? No, “Ophelia” is considered to be a Pre-Raphaelite style because of Millais’ connection with the movement. Though it has attention to natural detail like Impressionist paintings and focuses on classical form like Renaissance paintings, the “Ophelia” painting is firmly a Pre-Raphaelite work of art

Throughout his career, Millais illustrated for publications, magazines and novels. He also became a portraitist in the early 1870s, painting images of many of London’s socialites. In 1853, he became an associate of the Royal Academy and a full member ten years later. In 1896, he was elected President of the Royal Academy.

What is the Ophelia Painting's Meaning & Inspiration?

The Ophelia painting may be one of the most popular, easily recognizable and most famous paintings from the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Completed when the art movement was at its peak, the painting has many of the characteristics that signified pre-Raphaelite works. The Ophelia painting depicts a scene from Hamlet, and many of the Pre-Raphaelite artists were fond of using Shakespeare as a source of inspiration.

The Ophelia painting depicts the scene where Ophelia throws herself in the river to drown after finding out her father has been killed by Hamlet, her lover. In the original play, Shakespear describes how Ophelia adorned herself with flowers before drowning herself. Millais painstakingly added flowers with incredible accuracy to his painting, each with their own meaning.

One of the most important Ophelia painting meanings comes through the flowers that Ophelia holds as she lays in the water. Millais paints pansies, signifying love in vain and forget-me-nots that symbolize devotion. Ophelia also holds violets which symbolize fidelity, nettles, a symbol of pain and daisies, which are a symbol of innocence. Pheasant’s eyes are supposed to portray an apology, while poppies mean death. Each of these flower meanings are major themes within Hamlet.

Millais was obsessed with botanical accuracy. He painted the flowers with incredible precision in terms of shape and color. So, if you’re looking for flower painting ideas, you can take inspiration from some of Millais’ work. However, Millais also spent time ensuring the background also had botanical accuracy.

The background was inspired by a spot near Hogsmill River in Surrey. Millais spent four months painting the background to capture the finest details. The lush greenery, tall grasses and fallen tree trunk frame the image in vibrant color. The background of the Ophelia painting was painted outdoors on the banks of the river. Millais reportedly woke up at 6 in the morning to paint the meticulous scenery between 8 in the morning to 7 in the evening.

The Ophelia painting meaning has a lot to do with death, rebirth and growth, shown through the connection and attention to nature. The different meanings of the other flowers also bring another layer of depth to the painting. The Ophelia painting beautifully captures tragedy, pain, love and innocence. Using classical art techniques that combine Pre-Raphaelite ideas and Victorian sensibilities, the painting is brought to life in an evocative way. Viewing this painting, it’s not hard to see why it was considered a masterpiece when it was first created and now in modern times.

Who Was the Ophelia Painting's Model?

What is the story behind the Ophelia painting? The story behind the Ophelia painting is almost as interesting as the image itself. The Ophelia painting model was Elizabeth Siddal. An artist herself and an art model, Siddal was introduced to Millais by Walter Howell Deverell, another artist. Later, Siddal married and became the muse of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, a founding Pre-Raphaelite artist.

Being the Ophelia painting model was a difficult job. Siddal had to float in a bath of water warmed by lamps underneath the tub. While creating the Ophelia painting, one day, the lamps went out, causing the tub’s water to cool. Engrossed in his work, Millais did not notice, resulting in Siddal catching a cold from being submerged in the water for an extended period of time. Siddal’s father threatened legal action; however, Millais agreed to pay the doctor’s bills afterward.

Elizabeth Siddal had a prolific career as an art model. She played a significant role as one of the main models, muses and posers for members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. The artistic movement’s ideals of female beauty were often influenced and personified by her. Along with her appearance in the Ophelia painting, Siddal also appeared in Walter Deverell’s “A Pet” and “The Gray Parrot.” William Holmon Hunt used Siddal as a model for “A Converted British Family Sheltering a Christian Missionary from the Persecution of the Druids” and “Two Gentlemen of Verona, Valentine Rescuing Sylvia From Proteus.”

Siddal did not only sit for paintings, she created her own as well. She painted a self-portrait as well as works such as “Lady Clare,” “Madonna and Child with an Angel,” “The Haunted Wood,” and “The Quest of the Holy Grail.” She also had a drawing of “The Lady of Shallot,” which she signed Lady E.

This often brings up the question, "Is Ophelia the Lady of Shalott?" But, no, neither Ophelia or Elizabeth Siddal were the Lady of Shallot. However, the two characters are compared to each other as the two are parallels in terms of being a young woman experiencing tragic love. 

Siddal did not only influence and inspire the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Her image and works have become an inspiration for contemporary works, as well. She is portrayed, along with Rosetti, in the novel “How They Met Themselves” by Neil Gailman. She has also inspired characters in television shows, notable “Dante’s Inferno” by Ken Russel, “The Love School,” “Desperate Romantics,” and “The Doll Factory.”

While her most famous work may have been Millais's Ophelia painting, Siddal has proven to provide lasting inspiration to creatives of all types and most likely will for years to come.

What Was the Ophelia Painting's Medium, Materials & Technique?

Millais produced a few preparatory sketches before creating the final Ophelia painting. He made a sketch of the head of Elizabeth Siddal in 1852, which features a close-up of Siddal’s head tilted back. He also completed a quick sketch that depicts the basic position of Ophelia lying in the water. A third sketch is more complete and has more detail, showing Ophelia lying in the water with the natural scenery around her. 

When it came to the final Ophelia painting, Millais used oil on canvas. The canvas was primed with a glue solution and a lead white paint. Millais added a layer of zinc white to create a brighter white canvas.

It’s believed that Millais may have painted the section he would work on with white paint and work on that area, finishing as many details as possible. This may be to ensure the colors were pure and vibrant as he tended to mix colors as little as possible. Millais’ unique technique can be an inspiration for your own canvas painting ideas.

Oil paints were the Ophelia painting medium. These paints were made using pigments from minerals, stones, vegetables, insects and plants. With the advancements of chemistry at the time came new colors like lead and zinc white, vermillion, zinc and chrome yellow, cobalt blue, burnt sienna, madder lake, bone black and Naples yellow. These vibrant pigments contributed to Ophelia’s unique color scheme. These scientific advancements directly helped Ophelia’s painting medium and made it the painting it’s known as today. 

There is a good chance these paints were pre-mixed by colormen, which was a rising profession in this time period. Millais most likely purchased the paints from artists’ suppliers rather than mixing his own colors. However, the artist did often add other mediums to try to alter the quality and translucency of the paint.

Millais did not make any major compositional changes as he painted. He carefully planned his work to ensure the intricacy of the image. However, his technique was very unique and shows how creative he was to ensure his masterpiece.

In some areas of the Ophelia painting, he exposed the under layers to show off the canvas’s woven pattern. Through scientific analysis like infrared light, art historians were able to see each layer of paint, revealing more of Millais’ technique. For example, he painted at least four layers in the black coat, however each had been modified with meglip or resin. This analysis has proven that Millais worked in layers, building the image from the background up brushstroke by brushstroke. 

The Ophelia painting story is just as interesting as the work of art itself. John Everett Millais and his most famous Ophelia painting have taken their place in history and made their mark on art. With a story that’s more interesting than an artist and his muse, the Ophelia painting will continue to be one of the most compelling paintings of its era and beyond.

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