Artwork
The Wolf’s Den
The Wolf’s Den is an oil painting by the Pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais. It dates from 1863 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Western Art.
About this work
Overview
The Wolf's Den is an oil painting created by John Everett Millais between 1862 and 1863. It depicts four children engaged in play on a red carpet, surrounded by a dark, wood-paneled room.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows children lost in their own world, playing a game that involves a child dressed in a fur coat, symbolizing a wolf. The atmosphere is quiet and contemplative, with the children's actions and expressions conveying a sense of innocence and imagination.
Technique & Style
Millais employed chiaroscuro to create depth and contrast, drawing attention to the children's faces and actions. The use of color and attention to detail contribute to the overall sense of realism in the painting.
History & Provenance
The painting is signed with Millais' monogram and dated 1863, indicating its completion during that year.
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.
- Leisure Hours
Hide and Seek
In the Garden
Cecily Ursula, aged three years
Portrait of Olga Wassiljewna Surikowa, the artist's daughter (Girl with Doll)
Inconsolable
Young Woman Resting in a Music Room
Euterpe, Alec and Cotz Ionides
Dancing Children
My Second Sermon
Christmas-Time, The Blodgett Family
The Ruling Passion