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The Bottom Line

This is a retrospective of John Everett Millais, a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. The exhibition includes two of his greatest works: Ophelia and Mariana which are both part of the Tate's permanent collection. You can see unexpectedly frank portraits of women and late landscapes.

Pros

• Chance to see so many styles of painting from one artist
• One of the most gifted of the late Victorian British artists

Cons

• Slightly expensive but worth it

Description

• Address:
  Tate Britain
  Millbank
  London
  SW1P 4RG
• Opening Times:
  26 Sept 2007 – 13 Jan 2008
  Christmas closing: 24-26 December
  Open daily: 10am – 5.40pm
  Last admission: 5pm
• Last admission: 8.30pm on the 1st Friday of every month
• Tickets:
  £11
  Seniors: £10
  Concessions: £9
  Telephone booking: 020 7887 8888
  
• Audio Guide:
  £3.50
  Concessions: £3
• Exhibition Tours:
  £5 + exhibition ticket.
  Monday: 4.15pm
  Tuesday: 11.15am
  Wednesday: 3.15pm
  Thursday: 4.15pm
  Friday: 2.15pm
• Visit Duration:
  1 hour
  Important:
  Photography and mobile phones are not allowed in the exhibition.
• The catalog includes all the drawings from the exhibition and not just the paintings as is often the case.
• A real treat to see so many of Millais's paintings in one place.

Guide Review - Millais Exhibition at Tate Britain

I saw this exhibition with the About.com Painting Guide who was returning for a second visit. She could confirm the exhibition was not over-crowded, even on weekends so you do have the opportunity to see everything and not be rushed.

Having never taken the time to study this artist's work before I was most amazed by the use of saturated color, particularly on the blue dress in Mariana. The detail in all of the paintings was incredible and I learned that Millais studied at the Royal Academy at only 11 years old; a feat that has not been matched since.

The intelligent use of detail can be seen in the face in The Eve of St. Agnes yet the dress in the same painting is less-defined but still striking.

Another painting you will instantly recognize is Bubbles as it was used to advertise Pears' Soap.

The exhibition is organized into 7 rooms with different colored walls to guide you through:

• Room1: Pre-Raphaelitism
• Room 2: Romance and Modern Genre
• Room 3: Aestheticism
• Room 4: The Grand Tradition
• Room 5: Fancy Pictures
• Room 6: Portraits
• Room 7: The Late Landscapes

In room 6, a major bonus is the inclusion of the artist's palette, brushes, and paints, plus his easel and sitter's chair. This reminds us that it was the skill of a real person that created these works of art as in the time of technology we can often forget what was involved in creating such masterpieces.

The Late Landscapes in room 7 were a surprise to me as this is not a subject matter I would have associated with Millais, but I learned that he spent many years in the Scottish Highlands as his two favorite pastimes were painting and hunting. Don't miss Dew-Drenched Furze as the frost and the dew are stunning. Look at this painting up close and then from across the room as the affect is quite different.

Well worth a visit. Don't miss out.