Leisure Hours 1864

Sir John Everett Millais painted "Leisure Hours," with oils on canvas. The work reflects the Victorian era's emphasis on domesticity, childhood innocence, and material comfort. Millais, a founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, often explored themes of beauty and morality. In this painting, we see two young girls in elaborate dresses, a goldfish bowl between them, set against an ornate backdrop, a scene of comfortable domesticity. The girls appear to be captured in a moment of quiet contemplation, and there is a social commentary on class and privilege. The painting is a product of its time, and we can research Victorian social history, art criticism, and Millais's biography to enrich our understanding of it. The interpretation of any artwork relies on the evidence we can gather about its context.