Sir John Everett Millais

Excellent, strong impression printed with tone, from the only published edition, as issued by the Etching Club in 1872.

Going to the Park sums up Victorian genre art perhaps better than any other etching of the period and is an outstanding example of J.E.Millais’s later style.

John Everett Millais was to become one of the most successful painters of the entire Victorian era; however, he had first risen to prominence as one of the founder members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, during which time his work had alarmed all of the critics except Ruskin who hailed him as a genius. The association of critic and artist was disastrous, with Ruskin’s wife falling for Millais. She left her husband, and after a scandalous annulment, she married J.E.Millais in 1855.

Around the time of his marriage, J.E.Millais began to turn towards a more popular style, epitomised in his superb etchings. His success was so enormous that he was soon to enjoy a level of income which had never before been seen by any British artist - by the 1880's he was estimated to be earning the staggering sum of £30,000 a year. John Everett Millais remains one of the most important of the Victorian etchers and his work is still the most widely sought after of their group today.

On off-white chine appliqué on original warm white wove backing sheet, with full margins, as issued. Some foxing at extreme outer edges of sheet, otherwise very fine original condition. Image surface excellent.