LizzieSiddal.com Blog

In a highly original and unique project, artist Jo Wonder recreates Ophelia by Sir John Everett Millais using bacteria as a medium.  The video is incredibly moving and includes voice mails and messages left for Ophelia. “I like the idea of Ophelia being a beauty but made up of something that we think is disgusting. [...]

Barbara Webb has narrowed down the location where Millais sat to paint the background to Ophelia.    Ophelia is not only one of the artist’s most famous works, it is also one of the most recognizable images of Elizabeth Siddal.  Read the entire article at Telegraph.co.uk. For more on Elizabeth Siddal as Ophelia, visit the Ophelia [...]

In 1853, while Lizzie was known as Gabriel’s pupil, she painted in his studio while he was visiting the Scott (William Bell Scott)  family in Newcastle-on-Tyne.  Gabriel mentions this in a letter to his brother, William Michael Rossetti.  I believe that this was when Lizzie painted her only self portrait.  If you look at all [...]

Millais was one of the first artists to portray Ophelia in the process of drowning. Couple this bold move with his Pre-Raphaelite dedication to “truth to nature” and you have a stunning, accurate painting. The video below ilustrates and explains how Millais painted Ophelia and Lizzie’s experience modeling:

This is a large version of a study for Lizzie as Ophelia, drawn by Millais, that I enlarged and cropped the excess space away so that we may get a good look at her face.  William Michael Rossetti said that the painting of Ophelia was perhaps the best likeness of Lizzie.  I’ve always loved the [...]

Here is a later version of Beata Beatrix, painted in 1870. Lets compare it to the earlier version we’ve discussed. It is certainly more “glamorized”. Any thoughts?

Please post a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Beata Beatrix. Beata Beatrix is probably one of the most famous images of Elizabeth Siddal, next to Millais’ Ophelia. Rossetti painted Beata Beatrix after Lizzie’s death.  Although some studies had been done before Lizzie died, the work is mainly posthumous and is considered to [...]

Drawn by her lover (later her husband) Dante Grabriel Rossetti Study for Ophelia, drawn by Millais Ophelia, painted by Millais Triptych of Paolo and Francesca de Rimini, painted by Rossetti while Lizzie traveled in France so he could send her the money from the sale of this painting. Portrait of Elizabeth Siddal by Rossetti Pen [...]