Ophelia's Travels

Ownership History  |  Sir Henry Tate Gift  |  Exhibition History  |  Friends and Foes

Friends and Foes

Ophelia has received both positive and negative criticism since Millais began painting it in 1851. Read a variety of opinions on Ophelia from 1851/2 to the present day below by clicking on a date and title.

Responses at the Time

Friends: Fred Stephens, 1852 Morning Chronicle 1852 Spectator, 1852 Punch, 1852 John Ruskin, 1854 John Guille Millais, 1899 Mr Spielmann, 1899

Foes: London Times, 1852 Art Journal, 1852 William Michael Rossetti, 1867

On the fence: Illustrated London News, 1852 London Times, 1852 Athenaeum, 1852 John Ruskin, 1852

20th and 21st Century Criticism

Friends:

Mary Bennett, 1967
The Listener, 1967
New Statesman, 1967
John McEwan, date unknown
Jan Marsh, 1998