Mariana – Figure Sketch and Sketch of a Woman folding Cloth 1850

Curator: Millais' pencil sketch, titled 'Mariana – Figure Sketch and Sketch of a Woman folding Cloth' from 1850, is an intriguing piece in its early state. The artist is famed for being a founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and this drawing perhaps allows us to catch a glimpse of his preliminary explorations. Editor: Yes, it feels raw, almost voyeuristic. I mean, the hazy outlines suggest that he wants to give us only an insight. I find the unfinished aspects really add to a sense of intimacy – like we're intruding on a private moment of inspiration. Curator: Exactly! The unfinished quality encourages that intimacy. Millais and the Pre-Raphaelites very much valued drawing as a fundamental practice to planning, which makes it an incredibly precious insight into their methods. This drawing echoes academic art traditions, yet already pushes into representing character with a degree of heightened feeling. The artistic establishment, initially sceptical of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, gradually accommodated Millais’ brilliance as it captured the imagination of wider Victorian society. Editor: It’s beautiful how just the suggestion of light and shadow can define the figures so strongly. Also, the composition creates this delicate tension, like two stories happening simultaneously yet apart. One's a flautist. Curator: Yes! And perhaps, given Millais' social circles at that time, maybe a subtle, knowing nudge to other female figures who held influence but maybe didn't directly "create". Think of people like Effie Gray. Editor: Oh yes, the plot thickens with society scandal! But really this composition captures such emotional restraint… The figures don't reveal all of themselves, do they? There's an elegant sadness in that distant figure, perhaps a portrait? Curator: Undoubtedly, his handling of female subjects resonated deeply, particularly at a time of dramatic social change and debates about women's roles and their representation. It really illustrates the nuances of gender dynamics in the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Editor: To sum up: as a glimpse into the creative process of Millais, and more widely the artistic debates within the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, this preliminary sketch is fantastic to view. I love this. Curator: Absolutely. Thank you.