TheOldMastersPrintsOphelia by John Everett Millais: meaning, location and key facts
Ophelia is an oil on canvas by John Everett Millais, painted between 1851 and 1852. It measures 111.8 × 76.2 cm and is held at Tate Britain, London.
Key facts
| Artist | John Everett Millais |
|---|---|
| Date | 1851–1852 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 111.8 × 76.2 cm (height × width) |
| Museum | Tate Britain, London |
| Style | Pre-Raphaelite |
| Data source | Wikidata (Q1065493) · Wikipedia |
What it shows
Ophelia, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, floats singing in a river before she drowns, arms open and lips parted. She is surrounded by flowers and plants painted with botanical precision, many with symbolic meaning: poppies for death, violets for faithfulness.
John Everett Millais, a member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, painted the landscape from life beside the Hogsmill River in Surrey over months in 1851. He added the figure later in his London studio.
Did you know?
- The model, Elizabeth Siddal, posed in a bathtub full of water; when the lamps warming it went out she fell ill, and her father demanded that Millais pay the doctor’s bills.
- Henry Tate gave it to the Tate in 1894.
- It is now on display at Tate Britain in London.
Where to see the original
Ophelia is at Tate Britain, London. Works are sometimes lent to exhibitions or taken down for restoration, so it is worth checking the museum’s website before you go.
Which print size to choose
The print keeps the proportions of the original: if they differ from the paper, the painting is centred with a white border and never cropped. More details in our size guide.
| A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | shelves, desks and gallery walls |
|---|---|
| A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) | bedrooms, hallways and small walls |
| A2 (42 × 59.4 cm) | above a sideboard, chest of drawers or headboard |
Prints are made to order in the Czech Republic and reach the EU in 3 to 8 days, with no customs. Canvases are made in the USA and take about 2 to 3 weeks, with EU VAT included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Ophelia?
- The original is held at Tate Britain, London.
- How big is Ophelia?
- The original painting measures 111.8 × 76.2 cm (height × width).
- Who painted Ophelia and when?
- It was painted by John Everett Millais between 1851 and 1852.
- Can I hang a reproduction of Ophelia at home?
- Yes. The work is in the public domain, so it can be freely reproduced. We offer it as a matte print in A4, A3, A2 (from €18.99) and as a ready-to-hang canvas (from €55.99), with free shipping to the EU.
Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Message us through the shop and we will fix it.
