⚡Sunday Art Snapshot: Ophelia by Sir John Everett Millais⚡
A haunting scene from Shakespeare brought to life
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Sir John Everett Millais’ painting Ophelia (1851-52) depicts a mesmerizing and haunting scene inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
It portrays Ophelia, drifting and singing in a river just before her tragic drowning. Painted with detail, the lush flora of the riverbank reflects the Victorian fascination with the “language of flowers,” each bloom symbolizing emotions like innocence and grief. Ophelia’s pose seems like a saint, which adds a layer of tragedy.
Ophelia is now celebrated as a masterwork of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and is displayed at Tate Britain.
This flashfact is a reference to my JourneyJots post:
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