The Ghost at the Wedding Ceremony
Drawing
1853 (drawn)
1853 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Ostensibly, the subject of this drawing is the division of lovers by death. Inscribed 'I won't, I don't', it represents a bride seeing the spectre of a former sweetheart, clutching his broken heart as he rises up behind her bridegroom. It may, however, allude to the marriage of Effie Gray (who once owned the drawing) to John Ruskin in 1848. At the date that the drawing was made, she and Millais were in love. Her marriage was annulled in 1854 and they married the following year. The figure on the right could be Ruskin's father, a dominating man who tried to run his son's life, and the ghost Ruskin's grandfather, who committed suicide. It is an image of great intensity, remarkable for its convincing rendition of the natural and supernatural. The drawing is, however, unfinished. Perhaps the subject became too painful for Millais to pursue.
Object details
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| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Pen, pencil and ink on paper |
| Brief description | The Ghost at the Wedding Party, pen and ink on paper, Sir John Everett Millais, 1853-1854, England |
| Physical description | A scene of 9 standing figures, four female to the viewer's left and four male, one partly cut off and another ghostly, to the right. In the centre is a figure holding a book showing concern for the forward-most woman, who recoils from the leading man's advance. He holds in his right hand a ring. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Ostensibly, the subject of this drawing is the division of lovers by death. Inscribed 'I won't, I don't', it represents a bride seeing the spectre of a former sweetheart, clutching his broken heart as he rises up behind her bridegroom. It may, however, allude to the marriage of Effie Gray (who once owned the drawing) to John Ruskin in 1848. At the date that the drawing was made, she and Millais were in love. Her marriage was annulled in 1854 and they married the following year. The figure on the right could be Ruskin's father, a dominating man who tried to run his son's life, and the ghost Ruskin's grandfather, who committed suicide. It is an image of great intensity, remarkable for its convincing rendition of the natural and supernatural. The drawing is, however, unfinished. Perhaps the subject became too painful for Millais to pursue. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.244-1947 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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