Drawing for "Christ in the House of His Parents" by Sir John Everett Millais Bt PRA (1829-96). c.1849. Graphite on paper, 190 x 337 mm. Collection: Tate Britain N04623. Bequeathed by H.F. Stephens 1932. Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND. Click on image to enlarge it.
This sketch both has elements left out of the painting and variations on the poses of figures included. It has, for example, the open window at left and an adult John the Baptist, but does not include the palm fronds to the left of the open door, the woodvice at the left of the workbench, the dove on the ladder, and the wood planks leaning against the right wall. Christ, who looks more like a girl than in the completed painting, leans in to kiss his mother.
Related material
- Completed work (in Tate Britain)
- Original drawing for the painting
- Study of figure at left and of Mary, Jesus, & Joseph
Bibliography
Millais, John Guile. The Life and Letters of John Everett Millais, President of the Royal Academy. 2 vols. New York: Frederick A. Stokes, 1899.
Created 16 September 2004
Last modified 8 July 2018