This Painting Almost Killed Her
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2024
- This piece is called Ophelia by John Everett Millais. It depicts a scene in the Shakespeare Play Hamlet where a grief stricken Ophelia accidentally falls into a stream and drowns. It’s a tragic story. But perhaps equally as haunting is the story of the model for this painting, Elizabeth Siddal who nearly died posing for it.
After months of painting the flora and fauna, Millais brought the canvas into his studio to paint the subject, Ophelia. Though by this time, much of the year had slipped away and it was wintertime in London. He had Siddal wear an antique dress and lie in a bathtub filled with water. During their sessions, Millais would place oil lamps beneath the tub to keep the water warm. But during one of the sessions, the lamps burned out and Millias was too engrossed in his painting to notice. The water turned frigid but Siddal worked through the discomfort in silence. Afterwards, Elizabeth got extremely sick with pneumonia. It was so severe that her parents threatened to take legal action against the artist and forced him to pay for her doctors bills along with her laudanum prescription.
John Everrett Millias was one of the founders of the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was made up of artists who were unhappy with the teaching they had received at the art academy. They challenged the many rules they were taught.
They wanted to go back to a time before there were so many rules surrounding art. Back to a time when you could just paint things as they were.
Elizabeth Siddal died of an opiate overdose at the age of 32. She overdosed on a drug called laudanum, the same drug she had to take when she got sick from posing for the Ophelia painting. But this is by no means where the many tragedies of her life start, nor where they end. Because maybe the biggest tragedy is that even today, we know her not for her art, or for her poetry, or even for the suffering she endured to bring us this beautiful painting. But instead, we know her as a pretty face, partially submerged in the tub of water that killed her.
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She was a Victorian era supermodel, artist, and poet who died young, the movie of her life would be amazing!
A true influencer 😂😂😂
I wish the movie-makers would make more movies about these historical women even obscure ones like Elizabeth Siddal, instead of the same old same old topics they do.
I wrote a screenplay about her and her life unfolds just like a movie. I never persued it, but somebody should.
I love the way you put that 😂 I would never have thought supermodel but it fits! She even had the same criticism that would happen today!
There is a BBC limited series called Desperate Romantics and her story is included.
english teachers after anyone uses your instead of you're :
I have endorsed the use of U R for any requirement.
The apostrophe, (' ), replaces a letter. In this case, it replaces the letter "a".
Isn't= is not.
@@rolandoscar1696explain ain't
Oh, your exaggerating in you're comment.
Grammar & punctuation are important, too. 😂
Whether or not Ophelia "accidentally" fell into the water is based on how you interpret the text. It is told later by Gertrude that the branch broke and dragged her under with her heavy dress sodden with water, but Gertrude may have lied because if Ophelia decided to unalive herself, she wouldn't be allowed a Christain burial and it would be rather embarassing to have her son's fiance commit suicide. There's a big argument about it in Slings & Arrows.
GRAVEDIGGER Is she to be buried in Christian burial,
when she willfully seeks her own salvation?
OTHER I tell thee she is. Therefore make her grave
straight. The crowner hath sat on her and finds it
Christian burial.
GRAVEDIGGER How can that be, unless she drowned
herself in her own defense?
OTHER Why, ’tis found so.
GRAVEDIGGER It must be se offendendo; it cannot be
else. For here lies the point: if I drown myself
wittingly, it argues an act, and an act hath three
branches-it is to act, to do, to perform. Argal, she
drowned herself wittingly.
OTHER Nay, but hear you, goodman delver-
OTHER But is this law?
GRAVEDIGGER Ay, marry, is ’t-crowner’s ’quest law.
I've always been team "Ophelia did it on purpose," but that's from playing her in High School. It made her character less of a victim and more autonomous in her horrible life.
That's right.
If only I'd known about Elizabeth in high school when we were tasked to research artists. RIP Elizabeth Siddal.
She _can't_ "pull herself out of the water.". Drowning was not u common for women back then because of their _clothes._ Multiple skirts , often of heavy material, and laced bodices meant that if you fell in water deeper than your waist, you could easily drown. She didn't give herself up; that was just Gertrude trying to make herself feel better.
Few people EVEN MOST SAILORS! could swim in those days
@@kaloarepo288 That was voluntary. Since the ships in those days could not come back to get them, the majority of sailors didn't learn to swim because that way, they'd die in the water faster.
@@Serai3 I'll look into that but it sounds a bit "whacky" that it was done deliberately as there would have been many cases when they could have been saved if able to swim as in battles when there were lots of ships around!
i wrote an essay about this painting a few months ago. there is so much detail and i loved writing about it.
I know the TH-camr obsoleteoddity did a video on her, she suffered that's for sure, she lost a child, that seemed to drive her deeper into depression. And I remember her poem, "Lord May I Come to Thee?", was so beautiful. I agree her "partner" held her back. It's incredibly tragic that her own art and poems weren't recognized and neither was her genius. I'm glad you covered this painting and the model here.
Yes, I love that channel. That is where I first learned of this as well.
Same. I love Oddy 😊
Elizabeth Siddal was a moderately good artist and not a very good poet.
Rossetti educated her and taught her how to draw. He wasn’t good to her, but she was a depressive, with poor health and a laudanum addiction.
@@gilly5094I spotted one of Rossetti’s descendants
The water doesn't look dirty at all...the ground underneath it is dark...but if you actually look you can see the transparency of the water.
Maybe pee I can imagine..... I would drowned too ....pee pee pee...
@@user-ec3rm9wr1n what
Decades ago my Senior Honors English teacher (from Australia and New Zealand) introduced us to this painting with a postcard of this image. (We were in the midst of year long theme study of death in literature and plays.) I fell in love with it and was determined to be able to see the painting in person. It took me 37 years but was worth the wait. Absolutely mesmerizing! It was strange, however, to see the actual size (life size) of the painting after seeing that tiny postcard image initially. A few years ago I read a biography of Elizabeth Siddal's life - what a tragic life it was.
You are so lucky to have seen the original painting in all its majesty. It must have been an overwhelming experience for you. I would have been slain in the spirit to be able to see it.
I love the idea that you’re changing her fate. That if people knew about her art, they’d care more about it than her being a model. You’re doing gods work
Roses bloom perenially during any period free of freezing weather. They're so popular because they're hardy and easy to take care of. They love you for the least bit of care and flourish lavishly for quality care.
Love your sense of humour - definitely required when dealing with heart-breaking tales like this.😊
Thank you, Dave. I’m glad you enjoyed the video!
A painting millions of women can resonate with.
I must be 1,000,001.
..And men, and all others.....please do not be exclusive here, that is sooo discriminating...
@@klabusterbeere7244 saying you like pancakes doesn't mean you don't like waffles.
Wow flowers have so many symbolic meanings
Ugh 😩😫....
It makes me so happy when I wake up on a Saturday morning and there is a new Art Deco video! I really appreciate the time you spend researching each painting and the work you put into each video. The cutaways and sound effects are brilliant! Love your channel, thank you!
Ophelia might have inspired more art, music & literature than any other character
Allow me to introduce you to Jesus. 😅
She looks like a photo rather than a painting, especially her face. I think it’s beautiful
You're the best Art teacher i have ever had! 😂 I am always impatiently waiting on the next class! 😅
PLEASE teach us about Fairy Fellows Master Stroke!!!
I suggest that anyone who loves that painting look up the novel "The Lastborn of Elvinwood", by Linda Haldeman, which builds a story that eventually contains, and explains that scene.
Brilliant analysis - thank you for putting so much work into researching the history of paintings. I saw the original Ophelia painting in the Tate Museum, London, and being so close to it gave me goosebumps. You could almost hear the water flowing and feel a gentle breeze. It is an extraordinary painting.
Just thought about this channel and searched it up and BOOM a new video. Love that you renewed my love for art.❤
Thank you for checking 😊
@@Art_Deco the notification was an hour late. I don't think I got notifications for the last 3 videos.
Dang. So much included in this video that I had never heard before, and I've long been drawn to this painting. Thank you SO MUCH for explaining this lady's life and her history.
Interesting! That makes Anne of Green Gables & her constantly lamenting about her red hair finally make sense! I mean, being an orphan seem far worse than red hair, so I never got it. I'm currently re-reading AGG so I looked up this painting up after reading the scene when Anne says she can't be this character because her *Anne* hair is red. I think this was painted around the time the book is set, so Anne couldn't have ever imagined that red hair is beautiful. I so love it when everything comes together. This is one of my favorite paintings. I'm thrilled to connect it to my favorite book series.
In the TV series (or maybe it was a movie) of the late 80‘s early 90‘s there is a scene with Anne in a boat as Ophelia, on a lake….the boat 🛶 is actually broken, it has a hole, and starts to sink…. I was not allowed to watch TV back then, I remember seeing this at a friend’s place… this is the only scene I vividly remembered…. And I can’t remember if there is anything about that in the books…or if it was a liberty they took for TV….
Guess I‘ll have to reread the books, too 😉😅
@Aditi-rl9tn YES! That's exactly the scene I was talking about. Just before that, the girls were deciding who should play Ophelia* when Anne says "but it's so ridiculous to have a redheaded..." It says Elaine in AGG, but it's clearly the exact same scene as in the painting. I've never seen that series, but I hear it follows the books pretty closely. I'll have to check it out.
They weren't playing Ophelia, they were playing Elaine, the Lady of Shalott, which is a somewhat similar story from Arthurian mythos. Specifically, they were trying to recreate the Tennyson poem.
If you read Anne of the Island this will all come together. When she goes to college she suddenly becomes very fashionable and has a ton of admirers. When she goes home everyone sees her as someone who has become almost pretty despite her red hair and Diana was still the conventional beauty. I think that this is probably because this because the people who have known you all your life always do see you as a gawky kid, whereas people at college hopefully have more "modern" ideas. In this case, there are indications that some of these modern ideas are from the preraphaelites and the art nouveau movement. Lucy Montgomery would have been aware of these movements, but Marilla and Mrs. Lynde would have known nothing about it and been scandalized if she did. I haven't read these books in years, but I had some old editions that used these motifs in the illustrations, otherwise I probably wouldn't have made these connections later.
There were no happy endings in the 19th century
Not for women, anyway.
@@WobblesandBeansome women had a happy ending
@@blossom1290Like who?
This is 18th century though
@@milkamoussse Do you live in some alternative calendar world or something or are you just dumb?
This is one of my favorite paintings. I didn’t realize how sad the model’s story was
Thank You...for taking me on another journey...
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...🐬💜🐬
Thank you💫💕 I used to gaze and gaze at this painting in my dad's old art textbook.
I usually learn more from your videos, but that's because I usually know less to begin with.
Please, more! Please, some Waterhouse!💔
She was afraid he wouldn't love her after her youth and looks faded, AND he slept around. Honey he never loved you. And it wasn't you, it was him. 💔😢
Fascinating look into the difficult life of Elizabeth Siddal. It’s a shame her premature death prevented her own art from being more fully expressed.
Better than little mouthwash lady ..... I knew that one suffered bundles and starvation
Elizabeth Siddall was a pre-Raphaelite muse. She was a Pre-Raphaelite artist herself, but, being a woman, could not be part of the brotherhood.
I have a large print of this Orphelia drowning painting, as well as the haunting dream like post-mortem painting, Beata Beatrix, done by her husband Rosetti.
@Saffron Rossetti discovered Lizzie Siddal when she was working in a millinery shop. It was Rossetti who taught her to draw. She was moderately good, but not on the same level as, say, Maria Zambaco, who was another Pre-Raphaelite muse and an artist in her own right, having studied at The Slade. It wasn’t that she was prevented from doing anything. She just wasn’t that good.
Thank you so much! Once again you shine a light through the ages to show us a beautiful & talented soul.
I love this painting. In the '80s I had a poster of it up in my bathroom, where I spent innumerable hours contemplating this luxurious depiction of the death of innocence. There's such a sensual depth to it--the arch of her spine, her open-mouthed rapture, her hands floating palms-up in elegant surrender as she releases the freshly picked bouquet of wildflowers into the waters which will claim her... The beaded gown is especially gorgeous, the dry parts detailed with sparkling glints of light as the wet parts dim beneath the water's murky surface, foreshadowing her eventual, total envelopment...a beautiful fever dream woven from the brushstrokes of a sorcerer. Thank you so much.
I dreamed I drowned in an ocean made of orange soda.
When I woke I realized it was just a Fanta sea. 😅
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
w/ me it's beer 😁
evangelion? 🤨
Get out/j
when I drink a whole bottle of alcohol, people call me an alcoholic
But when I drink a whole bottle of Fanta, nobody calls me fantastic ☹️
In my technical theater class, there were only 4 students. We needed to choose from several paintings, chosen by our teacher, to recreate. I chose this. It's why I'm here.
John Everett Millais is my 1st cousin 6times removed! His maternal Grandparents, Richard Evamy and Mary Barnes, are my 6th Great Grandparents!
Just a shame none of his original work made its way down to us!
"accidentally" fell ....
I’m amazed how much her face looks like a photograph
That was an intense ending. Great video.
This painting inspired Anne Shirley almost drowning scene in Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery. Anne recites the poem while on a boat, almost drowns, and then Gilbert rescues her. It was a reference to this painting (the red hair about matches and she laments often that her hair isn't auburn like the painting). Her eye color matches on purpose, and LM Montgomery purposefully makes several swipes at the Pre-raphaelites throughout her work. She makes a reference to John Ruskin-esque writing in The Blue Castle, lightly satirizing it, but also kind of making fun of herself in the process. She also mentions a "Lizzy" later in the Anne Books, but labels it a "horrible" name.
th-cam.com/video/qo-vxToXOHc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=OWVh3qNLx_Ga2Xoz
Actually she was pretending to be the Lady of Shalott. She was jilted by Sir Lancelot. Originally Ann's friend who has blonde hair was supposed to float down the River but she chickened out.
Actually, that is not correct. She was reciting Tennyson's poem about the Lady of Shallot, set in the time of King Arthur. The character of the lady was not supposed to be a red head, that is why initially her friend Ruby was going to play it but when she resisted, Anne reluctantly agreed (reluctantly because her sense of authenticity to the original material made her feel her red hair was not suitable for the role)
I always waited for your videos btw, they're all well made!!
*her story is incredible! and she is a true artist!!!!*
Thanks for another eye-opening video. I always look forward to your videos. They shed light on works and artists from areas of art history (and interpretation, and appreciation) that get little, if any, coverage in the mainstream. Among other things, you've given me a new understanding of the pre-Raphaelites and how revolutionary they actually were.
richard
--
He was a champion brooder. If there were a Sulky Olympics, he probably would get silver and then brood about it.
- Delilah S. Dawson & Kevin Hearne
I’m so happy to have another video from you today! I just started watching this beautiful woman lying in the stream and I’m already pulled all the way in.
After watching, I can only assume that they also used drugs to control her. I wonder if they had that understanding of laudanum during the pre-Raphaelite era?
Love these videos. I learn so much. Thank you!
I’m so happy to see Art Deco pop up today!
can you make a series of "cursed paintings" or something like that? I think it'd be really cool
Excellent video! The detail in this painting is fantastic, and I totally buy her expression. I have a number of Pre-Raphaelite prints in my home, including both Lady of Shalott paintings by Waterhouse. I was familiar with Lizzie's story from the BBC mini-series Desperate Romantics, which covers (though fictionally when it suits them) many of these events. Amy Manson brought Lizzie to life with her portrayal, including the bathtub scene. Noted below is the final insult, when Rosetti had her body exhumed to retrieve his unpublished poetry manuscript. Thank you for sharing her story.
This is one of my favorite paintings. Ophelia is a wonderful tragic character.
This is my favorite art piece of all time 😭🖤 I love all the story behind it, the PRB and Elizabeth Siddal
The clever sound effects are best heard without background music and I thank you.
It's become mildly disturbing how much I look forward to these uploads 😂 awesome work!
Just ordered copy of 'English Romantic Poetry". thx. I finally met a woman who deserves to have poetry read to her. She is my ethereally beautiful Calliope.
I love art and you make it come alive with your videos. Thank you! ❤
I viewed this painting at the Gallery in London, and have a print of same. What those models endured is beyond belief.
One if not my favourite painting I love Ophelia is so beautiful yet its such a sad piece
horrible things aside, I can relate heavily to the muscular, violent flies, I think they gave tips to my local mosquitos
I remember learning about this painting when I was still a kid but the image *IS* so beautiful.
And I want to note Millais describing how awful the flies are is the most eloquent way of saying "GOD, THESE *UCKIN' FLIES!* "
Am familiar with this painting (illustrated in HS English textbook years ago); was enchanted then and still am. Thank you.
Mine, too!
Awesome 😘 thank you again for everything 💖sending love your way! Another great video
Thank you, this is one of my favourite paintings, and the story behind it makes it that much more haunting.
Beautiful video as always! Entertaining and insightful. I can't get enough of your voice and sense of humor.
I have to add my thanks to you for introducing me to classic art. I really enjoy your tutorials, and recognize how much effort you put into each video. While I have no artistic ability in any media at all, I really enjoy the history behind the paintings and artists! ❤
I love your videos! You are such a great creator. Keep doing your thing ❤❤❤
Thank you so much!
One of your best breakdowns yet! Thank you.
Cool picture loved to find out the back story ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Can't believe you didn't mention what was done to her in death- when she passed away her husband placed a manuscript of his unpublished poems into her coffin and then a few years later had her exhumed just to get them back (just imagine paper that's been with a decomposing body for years on top of those remains being your loved ones and you doing that to them wronging them again even in death just to get back some paper... yeah he ended up coping the poems then trashed the original).
IMO that's even worse then what he did to her in life so it's weird that it wasn't mentioned in this video but since it wasn't I wanted to share it here because Elizabeth deserved WAY better- super talented woman and it's a shame she wasn't given that in life or even in death RIP ❤️🙏🏼
Don't be so hard on artdeco, did she mention that story in another video? She does a great job of presenting the topics and certainly can't cover everything.
Beautiful video. Thank you!
Thank you for another wonderful class through art history. I appreciate you and your content so very much
As always, love your videos! Such a sad story. But the painting is beautiful.
This and "In the wizard's garden" by George Dunlop Leslie have always been favourites.
Hi from Christchurch 🙂 I assume you saw that painting here. I used to look at it for ages when I was young.
Art Deco talking about Lizzie Siddal?!? Today is the best day EVER! ✌🏼
I'm glad your bringing to light interesting details behind the paintings, I would have never known about this woman and her live to be very Interesting, thank you for bringing to life of artist and not making them 2D explanation
Your channel is a treasure. Thank you!
🌹AcTUalLy, Roses bloom for around 7 to 8 months in the UK; between March to November, depending on the kind of rose. Hybrid Musk roses bloom very early Spring to Blue moon roses and Rosa Moyesii in the Autumn. especially here in the south of England.
I understand in the US roses only bloom for a month or so, but it’s more temperate here.
The Lady of Shalott is one of my favourites - but I thought Esther Kenworthy Waterhouse was the model (or were you highlighting the pre-Raphelites fondness for redheads? 🙂)
I really appreciate and love your videos.
You teach us so much about art and story behind the pieces and artists.
Thank you.
Thanks I wasn’t sad enough today
I always loved this painting and I'm very thankful to you for this video.
I always look forward to another video, Thankyou for feeding us mother 🙏🏼
I always enjoy watching your videos. You're so good at keeping my attention.
Awesome video as usual 😊
Beautifully stated. Thank you for you! 😊
Just googled for pre-rafaelites for inspiration and here you are! :) thanks for yet another great video!
I love your videos. I never learned a lot of art history so thank you. I've learned a lot.
As usual, your videos are amazing. I really found the story behind the Ophelia painting quite interesting.
Wonderful presentation . . . again. Thank you. I fully enjoyed.
I thoroughly enjoy your channel. Your expressive enthusiasm and appreciation for the artist and the artist's work, inspire me to have a deeper consideration and new perspectives for art familiar to me. I'd like to add, that the way you edit your vid.s, I think they are joyfully introducing (imo) brilliant art in a way that makes a person happy and curious, all at the same time. Thank you🙏🤗💛🕊✨.
Gorgeous painting! Pictures don’t do it justice!
I really love this channel! So informativ and entertaining at the same time! Many thanks for this good work!
As a very small child i always saw this painting hanging up at school and i always spent ages looking at it. Now im 34 and i said if i ever had a daughter she'd be called Ophelia
I’m so happy to see a new video I just ound your channel and I’m addicted!!! I was n art history major so I love thisss ☺️☺️❤❤❤
Thank you, very much. Awesome video🥰🥰🥰
Well at least she is somewhow remembered , most of us will be completely forgotten less then 20 years after our death.
Now I know what to talk about if I'm ever near some print of it. Many of these models were more interesting than the artists that painted them. I mean, if a man was middle class or above and just mid af, he could fail upwards. Some of these women clawed to get where they got, even if they didn't get where they wanted, they still pressed on in spite of the mistreatment. It's just fascinating.
I’ve been completely transfixed by this painting since I saw it on the cover of my 11th grade literature textbook. The artist is one that I enjoy very much. Thank you for the insight.
Elizabeth is just- one of my favourites because of her hair especially, i have so much anxiety about my red hair and my looks but when i see her she makes me feel like i can be beautiful too.
YESS! I finally found your account again! I found one of your videos two years ago but I accidentally refreshed and I haven’t seen your account until now! Im glad I found it again
A Silent Wood
O silent wood, I enter thee with a heart so full of misery. For all the voices from the trees and the ferns that cling about my knees. In thy darkest shadow let me sit, when the grey owls about thee flit. There will I ask of thee a boon, That I may not faint or die or swoon. Gazing through the gloom like one whose life and hopes are also done. Frozen like a thing of stone, I sit in thy shadow but not alone.
Can God bring back the day when we two stood, Beneath the clinging trees in that dark wood?
Elizabeth Siddal. Today being the 162nd year since passing...into the realm of the forever loved💙
YES I ADORE THIS PAINTING CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH THE VIDEO
I love your art explanations!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you for this video! 😀🌸