Information

A version of this illustration to the poem 'The Wife' was published in 'Once a Week' in 1860 (7 Jan., p. 32). The poem, signed 'A', deals with a loveless marriage. In Millais' illustration, the wife has just collapsed following the evocation of memories brought about by reading a favourite book from her school days. There is a finished sketch for the drawing at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

  • Purchased and presented by subscribers, 1906.
  • © Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

Makers

Association Artist Organisation
Artist John Everett Millais -

Inscriptions

Type Position(s) Method Date(s) Notes
JEM
Monogram bottom right Painted -
 

Exhibitions

Catalogue No. Venue Date(s)
The Drawings of John Everett Millais
75 Bolton Museum Art Gallery and Art Gallery 1979-07-07 - 1979-08-04
75 Brighton Museum and Art Gallery 1979-08-14 - 1979-09-02
75 Mappin Art Gallery, Sheffield 1979-09-08 - 1979-10-07
75 Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge 1979-10-16 - 1979-11-11
75 National Museum of Wales, Cardiff 1979-11-17 - 1979-12-16
 
John Everett Millais: Illustrator and Narrator
26 Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery 2004-10-16 - 2005-01-16
26 Leighton House, London 2005-02-18 - 2005-04-29
 

Literature

Author(s) Date(s) Publisher Pages
Once a Week
1860-01-07 Bradbury and Evans, London p. 32.
 
The Drawings of John Everett Millais
1979 Arts Council of Great Britain, London cat. no. 75.
 
John Everett Millais: Illustrator and Narrator
Paul Goldman 2004 Lund Humphries, Aldershot cat. no. 26 / B122.

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