Date: 1889
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 38.5 x 62 in
Location:
This article will discuss the Ophelia 1889 by John William Water house, as well as Millais' film and Claire McCarthy's opera. Whether you're an art lover or a film fan, you're sure to find something of interest in this article. Here are some facts about Ophelia that may surprise you. We'll also discuss the role of the sea goddess in the story, and Waterhouse's original painting.
Ophelia by John William Waterhouse
In Ophelia 1889 by John William Water house, a young girl lies in a field with flowers. Her eyes are wide and scared as she looks at the rushing river. Waterhouse also depicts her in a tailored dress and garland of oxeyes around her dress. The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1910. Today, it is housed in a private collection.
While the title may seem a bit too theatrical, it is not surprising that the painting is one of the most well-known interpretations of Shakespeare's tragic fable. Waterhouse creates his own Ophelia, and he captures a wide range of feelings. Ophelia's sadness and hopelessness are apparent in the painting, but she is also determined. Her gaze is wide and reveals her underlying dismay.
Millais' painting of Ophelia
In contrast to the other famous Pre-Raphaelite paintings by the same artist, Millais' Ophelia shows the most distressing side of the character. Its extreme detail and photorealism, coupled with its vivid color palette, make this painting of Ophelia an exceptional piece. Ophelia is shown surrounded by black water and the rest of the scene seems uncaring and unfeeling.
Ophelia is one of Shakespeare's most famous characters, and Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite artists took inspiration from her story to create powerful paintings. Ophelia's tragic end in Hamlet prompted several Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite artists to portray her death. John William Waterhouse's Ophelia is considered one of Millais' greatest masterpieces.
Despite the eminent significance of Hamlet, Ophelia was often depicted as a death scene. Several artists in the nineteenth century chose to paint Ophelia, rather than Hamlet. Arthur Hughes and Richard Redgrave had painted the same scene in 1842 and 1852, respectively. This painting was a homage to the work of the Pre-Raphaelite circle, which influenced many of their works.
Millais' film of Ophelia
Described in an 1851 exhibition, John Everett Millais' Ophelia is his most famous painting of the tragic heroine. The painting shows Ophelia clutching a bouquet of flowers with partially-open hands as her head bobbles over murky water. She wears a lavishly beaded dress and has an expression both haunting and harrowing.
The role of Ophelia in Millais' film is played by Daisy Ridley, who portrays a rebellious, naive young woman who is taken under the wing of Queen Gertrude. Ophelia is not from nobility; her father is the chief councillor of the king. In addition, she reads forbidden literature, which makes her a tomboy.
John William Waterhouse's 1910 film of Ophelia shows Ophelia with an expression more concerned than in the earlier painting. The painting's composition resembles a Pre-Raphaelite painting, with Ophelia leaning against a tree with a bouquet of flowers, staring at the viewer. Waterhouse's work is also a source of inspiration for Claire McCarthy's 2018 film of Ophelia, based on Lisa Klein's novel and starring Daisy Ridley.
Claire McCarthy's film of Ophelia
In re-telling the Shakespearean tragedy “Hamlet”, Claire McCarthy's Ophelia offers a powerful, haunting, and moving take on the titular character. Though not a perfect rendition, Ophelia makes interesting narrative questions. The film features George MacKay as Hamlet, Clive Owen as Claudius, Naomi Watts as Ophelia, and Tom Felton as Ophelia's brother Laertes.
The film is set in the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood world, and opens with the title character Ophelia in a pool of water with a bouquet of wildflowers in her arms. Ophelia tells her companions what the flowers represent, which is symbolic of her death. The film also features Millais's painting of Ophelia, which sets the mood for the film's story.
Inspired by the iconic painting by John Everett Millais, Claire McCarthy's film of Ophelia (1889) is a feminist juggernaut. The eponymous heroine is rejected by her future husband and dies of a broken heart. The story traces the path to love, marriage, and redemption. The play has an interesting historical background, but this is not the only connection the story evokes.
