Artwork
The North-West Passage
The North-West Passage is an oil painting by the Pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery.
About this work
Overview
The North-West Passage is a 1874 oil painting by John Everett Millais, depicting an elderly sailor and his daughter in a contemplative scene.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows the sailor seated at a desk, with his daughter reading from a log-book beside him. The scene is rich in maritime references, including a chart of arctic islands and a painting of a ship trapped in ice, alluding to the British expeditions to find the Northwest Passage.
Technique & Style
Millais's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and dimensionality, drawing attention to the central figures. The room is furnished with various objects, and the color palette includes dark tones for the sailor's clothing and warm tones for the daughter's dress and the surrounding decor.
Context
The painting's title and subtitle, 'It might be done and England should do it', refer to the repeated failure of British expeditions to navigate the Northwest Passage, a quest that had become synonymous with adversity and tragedy.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir John Everett Millais, 1st Baronet ( MIL-ay; 8 June 1829 – 13 August 1896) was an English painter and illustrator who was one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
