Millais was one of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood’s founding fathers. Ophelia is his most famous painting. Through Charlotte, I have come to love the Pre Raphs’ paintings, style and unique voice. The below is no exception. I was particularly moved by the below when I was doing research into the brotherhood for a series of upcoming posts.

Later on in life, Millais turned more towards landscape painting, creating breathtakingly beautiful artworks depicting the Scottish scenery. One such painting is Dew-Drenched Furze of 1889-1890, which is a picturesque view of the woods in Perthshire. While this dense landscape of muted greens and golden, soft yellows, devoid of any figures, is very detailed, there is an almost fogginess to it, giving it a slight abstract feel – breaking away from his usual clear, crisp artworks. Culture Trip

There are many reasons why I love this painting. The rendering is exquisite. The lighting and the way it interacts with the dew on the furze has an inherently magical quality. The depth of the painting is also quite impressive. The tall furze at the front, with the brambles all covered in morning dew, topped by a serene scene and a deep wood. The light coming through in the central part is hopeful. The height of the trees and their variety is also lovely and contributes to an overall air of peace.

One of the reasons I love this painting is that it reminded me of a scene from my last trip to France with Charlotte. At the time of writing we have planned our next trip and I can only hope it contains the same magic as our first trip. The below is a photograph my mother took of a clearing near the house, where we went on a walk one day.

Suffice to say, there will be more Millais magic to come!