Sir John Everett Millais, 1st Bart (1829 –1896) was perhaps the most naturall y talented artist ever to ha ve worked in England. His astonishing facility gained him entr y at the a ge of eleven to the Royal Academy, its youngest ever pupil. At just nineteen he founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood with six other painters, revolutionising the English art world with a visionar y intensity of both subject matter and style.
Yet there is much more to Millais’ career than Pre-Raphaelitism. Some of the most emotive narrative paintings of the Victorian era, its greatest portraits, and especiall y some of its most beautiful, if neglected, landscapes, came f rom his br ush – as did some of its most notoriousl y successful paintings, like Bubbles, the ‘fancy picture’ that was made into an advertisement for Pears’ Soap.
Possibl y the most significant of his achievements, however, was his work in wood-engra ved illustration, which revolutionised the medium and established an English school that was to ha ve a worldwide influence. This is his personal anthology of his finest work in the field.
First published 1866
This edition first published 20 0 7 by Pallas Athene (Publishers) Ltd
2 Birch Close, Hargra ve Park, London N19 5XD
Reprinted 20 10, 20 12, 20 17
This revised edition 20 25
ISBN 978 1 84368 268 4
www.pallasathene.co.uk
Printed in England
