Millais’ Ophelia: The Most Beautiful Death in Art History?

Ophelia by John Everett Millais is one of the most hauntingly beautiful paintings in art history—but the story behind it is even more disturbing than it looks.

To create this masterpiece, Millais made model Elizabeth Siddal float in a bathtub wearing a heavy dress for hours. The water turned cold, the lamps went out, and she nearly died—just to capture the perfect image of Shakespeare’s tragic heroine.

In this video, we explore what makes Ophelia such a powerful and enduring painting:
🖼️ The shocking story behind its creation
🖼️ Millais’ obsession with natural detail
🖼️ How it reflects Victorian attitudes toward death and female madness
🖼️ The painting’s emotional and psychological impact
🖼️ Why it still captivates viewers nearly 200 years later

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Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
01:42 – The Real Story Behind Ophelia Before We Interpret It
03:28 – Elizabeth Siddal’s Painful Dedication to This Painting
04:10 – Analyzing the Details in Millais' Ophelia
05:50 – Victorian Attitudes Toward Death in the Painting
07:06 – The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood’s Influence on Ophelia
07:48 – Elizabeth Siddal’s Own Tragic Story
09:40 – Why Ophelia Still Speaks to Us Today

DISCLAIMER:
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

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