Sir John Everett Millais, Bt

The Boyhood of Raleigh

1870

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display
Artist
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt 1829–1896
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 1206 x 1422 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Presented by Amy, Lady Tate in memory of Sir Henry Tate 1900
Reference
N01691

Display caption

Sir Walter Raleigh was one of the most celebrated explorers of the Elizabethan age. In Millais’s famous painting he is shown as a boy listening with rapt attention to ‘tales of wonder on sea and land’ told by a Genoese sailor. The toy ship in the foreground suggests Raleigh’s future adventures, while the sharp edge of an anchor on the right may allude to the final words he uttered at his execution: ‘Strike, man, strike’.

Gallery label, November 2016

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Explore

You might like

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘The North-West Passage’ 1874

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt The North-West Passage

1874
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N01509
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘Mrs Bischoffsheim’ 1873

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt Mrs Bischoffsheim

1873
N05572

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt Miss Anne Ryan

date not known
N04536
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘Hearts are Trumps’ 1872

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt Hearts are Trumps

1872
N05770
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘Miss Eveleen Tennant’ 1874

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt Miss Eveleen Tennant

1874
N05260
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘The Yeoman of the Guard’ 1876

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt The Yeoman of the Guard

1876
N01494
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘The Knight Errant’ 1870

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt The Knight Errant

1870
N01508
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘Sir Henry Thompson, Bt’ 1881

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt Sir Henry Thompson, Bt

1881
N01941
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘The Vale of Rest’ 1858–9

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt The Vale of Rest

1858–9
N01507
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘Mercy: St Bartholomew’s Day, 1572’ 1886

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt Mercy: St Bartholomew’s Day, 1572

1886
N01510
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘The Order of Release 1746’ 1852–3

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt The Order of Release 1746

1852–3
N01657
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘Ophelia’ 1851–2

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt Ophelia

1851–2
N01506
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘Dew-Drenched Furze’ 1889–90

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt Dew-Drenched Furze

1889–90
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T12865
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘‘The Moon is Up, and Yet it is not Night’’ 1890

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt ‘The Moon is Up, and Yet it is not Night’

1890
N05632
Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, ‘Christ in the House of His Parents (‘The Carpenter’s Shop’)’ 1849–50

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt Christ in the House of His Parents (‘The Carpenter’s Shop’)

1849–50
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N03584

In the shop

Browse the shop