John Everett Millais Biography | Oil Paintings

John Everett Millais, English painter, and illustrator, a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Born in Southampton, John Everett Millais was a child prodigy and at the age of 11 became the youngest ever pupil at the Royal Academy Schools. With Rossetti and Hunt, he formed the nucleus of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. His Christ in the House of His Parents (The Carpenter's Shop) was pilloried by the critics, although his work was vigorously defended by the most powerful art critic John Ruskin.

John Everett Millais relationship with this influential critic was initially very cordial until he fell in love with Ruskin's wife, Effie, who modeled for his painting The Order of Release. As Millais painted Effie they experienced passionate feelings for each other. Effie was still a virgin, despite having been married to Ruskin for five years. Effie's younger sister Sophy Gray also sat for several oil paintings by Millais, prompting some speculation about the nature of their fond relationship. The 2014 film, Effie Gray, written by Emma Thompson, features Tom Sturridge as Millais.

John Millais, the Un-Pre-Raphaelite Art of the Victorian Age.

John Everett Millais's rift with the art establishment did not last long. He continued painting dreamy Pre-Raphaelite themes until around 1860 but found that they did not sell as well and took too long to complete. So he adopted a more commercial style and subject matter, specializing in imposing portraits, sentimental narrative paintings, and mawkish studies of children. His later works were successful, making Millais one of the wealthiest artists of his day. He introduced sentimental themes and touching portraits of children into the art of the Pre-Raphaelite group, such as The Blind Girl.

He also became a prolific book illustrator. This approach won John Everett Millais many honors- he was raised to the peerage and became President of the Royal Academy but damaged his long-term artistic reputation.

Art Movement History: Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
Artists Influencing John Millais: William Holman Hunt, Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
He Traveled To Scotland.
Painters Everett Millais Influenced: John Singer Sargent.
Artist's Biography compiled by Albert L. Mansour at The World's Artist, with text adapted from Wikipedia.