Love
Watercolour
ca. 1862 (painted)
ca. 1862 (painted)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This image of two lovers clasped in each other’s arms is based on a poem of the same name – ‘Love’. The poem is by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) and describes a lovers' midnight meeting. It appeared in an illustrated edition of Poets of the Nineteenth Century published by the Dalziel brothers in 1857. They were key figures in the printed book trade at this time and commissioned the work of artists for their editions.
This watercolour was painted some five years later by the British artist John Everett Millais (1829-1896). He was a member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of 19th-century painters, poets and writers who looked to early Renaissance painters for inspiration. Here, for example, Millais has shown the lovers in ‘medieval’ dress.
This watercolour was painted some five years later by the British artist John Everett Millais (1829-1896). He was a member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of 19th-century painters, poets and writers who looked to early Renaissance painters for inspiration. Here, for example, Millais has shown the lovers in ‘medieval’ dress.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Love (popular title) |
Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and watercolour wash |
Brief description | Watercolour, Love, by John Everett Millais, illustration to the poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, ca.1862. |
Physical description | Watercolour depicting two lovers embracing against a moonlit garden landscape. There is a rabbit in the background. Pen and ink and blue watercolour wash, probably touched with watercolour. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Marks and inscriptions | Signed |
Gallery label | Display 'Into the Woods: Trees in Illustration'; Gallery 102; June 2017 to the end of January 2018
John Everett Millais (1829-1896)
Illustration to the poem 'Love' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
About 1862
Millais has chosen to illustrate Coleridge's poem on the theme of love and the clandestine meeting between two lovers, in the setting of a moonlit wood. The couple are clasped in each other's arms, shrouded from view by the trees of the still and silent forest.
Pen and ink and watercolour wash
Museum no. 178-1894(2017) |
Object history | Engraved on wood by Dalziel Bros. on p.137 of The Poets of the Nineteenth Century , edited by R.A. Wilmott, 1867. Reproduced in |
Subjects depicted | |
Literary reference | 'Love' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge |
Summary | This image of two lovers clasped in each other’s arms is based on a poem of the same name – ‘Love’. The poem is by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) and describes a lovers' midnight meeting. It appeared in an illustrated edition of Poets of the Nineteenth Century published by the Dalziel brothers in 1857. They were key figures in the printed book trade at this time and commissioned the work of artists for their editions. This watercolour was painted some five years later by the British artist John Everett Millais (1829-1896). He was a member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of 19th-century painters, poets and writers who looked to early Renaissance painters for inspiration. Here, for example, Millais has shown the lovers in ‘medieval’ dress. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | 178-1894 |
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Record created | June 28, 2005 |
Record URL |
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