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Subject & Meaning

Subject |
Symbolism |
Detail and Realism |
Links with photography
Female Suicides |
Other Ophelias
Ophelia by other artists

Ophelia is a very popular topic for artists.
Listed below are various images of Ophelia, depicting the story in different ways.
For example Arthur Hughes's work of Ophelia exhibited at the same time as Millais's at the Royal Academy,
shows Ophelia before she slips into the river.
| 19th Century Ophelias |
- Daniel Maclise, The Play Scene in 'Hamlet'
exhibited 1842, (Millais 1951-2), Tate

- Arthur Hughes, Ophelia (see top right), exhibited in 1852 at the Royal Academy at the same time as
Millais's Ophelia.

- Paul Falconer Poole,
Sketch, Ophelia? (see middle right)

- J. W. Waterhouse produced 3 paintings of Ophelia.
His 1889 version, (owned by Sotheby's New York), shows Ophelia lying in a meadow in an attitude of abandon,
dressed in white.
One hand is in her hand and another, grasping the flowers.
In his second painting of 1894, (Schaeffer Collection, Sydney - see middle below), Ophelia sits on a branch of a tree, as she fixes
poppies and daisies in her hair.
In his third work of 1910, (collection of Andrew Lloyd-Webber), Ophelia stands on the edge of a river, steadying
herself by a tree, as she stares wildly at the viewer, clutching her dress and a handful of flowers, whilst two viewers
watch from a bridge in the background.

- Odilon Redon, Ophelia among the Flowers c1905-8
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Arthur Hughes
Ophelia
© Manchester Art Gallery
oil on canvas, 27 x 48.45

John William Waterhouse
Ophelia
© The Schaeffer Collection |
| Modern Ophelias |
- Stanley William Hayter, Ophelia
1936 Tate, 2003
(see below left)

- Reg Butler, Ophelia,
1955 Tate, 2003 (see bottom right)

- Bryan Organ Ophelia
1974 Tate, 2003

Ophelia, Stanley William Hayter,
1936 Tate, 2003
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Sketch, Ophelia?
Paul Falconer Poole
Purchased 1947,
© Tate 2003

Ophelia, Reg Butler,
1936 Tate, 2003 |
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