Ophelia, after Millais

Description

Oil and pencil on canvas titled 'Ophelia - after Millais'. The subject of the painting is of the drowning of the character Ophelia from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. This painting is a modern interpretation of the painting by John Everett Millais titled 'Ophelia' 1851-52 (held in the Tate's collection). The scene shows Ophelia lying on her back in the water with arms out to her sides, palms of hands facing upwards. It appears as though she was holding flowers. Her face, chest and legs are visible above the surface of the water, her eyes are open. She wears a purple blue colour plain dress. The sky is a light blue grey colour and the water is dark blue grey colour. The water appears flat and calm. A painted arch frames the scene, this is beige in colour. The painting has a wooden frame and is unglazed.