Sunday, May 10, 2009

John Everett Millais - John Ruskin


1853-4
oil on canvas
Private collection
Commissioned by Ruskin and started in 1853. The background is the river at Glenfinlas. It reflected Ruskin's interesr in Nature and geology in particular. Millais had a lot of problems with this picture and the background wasn't finished until 1854 when Millais reluctantly returned to Scotland. He received £350 for it from Ruskin's Father. Ruskin was generally pleased with the portrait but may have regretted it in other ways as these trips were when the relationship between Millais and Effie - Ruskin's 'wife' (the marriage was never consummated) began.

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