The Knight Errant 1870

Sir John Everett Millais painted “The Knight Errant” with oil on canvas in the late 19th century. The knight pictured, in shining armor, is cutting the ropes that bind a naked woman to a tree. This painting draws heavily on the visual codes of medieval romance, which was a popular genre at the time. It also relates to discussions about the role of women at the time it was made in England. Millais places the viewer in an interesting position. Are we meant to celebrate the heroism of the knight? Or are we meant to consider the vulnerability of the woman in the picture? What are the politics of representing a naked woman in this context? The Pre-Raphaelites, of which Millais was a key member, often created artworks that were intentionally provocative and challenged the existing social norms. Historians are interested in understanding the original social context of artworks. We can use a range of resources, such as letters, diaries, newspaper articles, and institutional records, to understand the artistic choices that were made.