For the second installment in my 'Favourite Paintings' series here on my blog (read the first on 'The Ambassadors' here!), I have chosen a painting by the Pre-Raphaelite, John Everett Millais. The painting has quuite a long name - 'A Huguenot, On Saint Bartholomew's Day, Refusing To Shield Himself From Danger By Wearing The Roman Catholic Badge' - and it pretty much tells you exactly what is happening in the picture, no explanation necessary! However, I absolutely love this painting, it is both tragic and Romantic, so typical of the Pre-Raphaelites, so I want to tell a little background to the story of the painting and how I feel about it.
When I originally conceived the idea of writing a series about my favourite paintings on my blog, I thought a lot about the different artists that I would include. One thing I knew for sure was that I would have to include something by at least one of the Pre-Raphaelites, as they are some of my favourite paintings ever! The Pre-Raphaelites were a so-called brotherhood, based in England and founded in 1848, of people who worked as poets, writers, artists and musicians. They contested 'modern day' teaching of art and wanted to build a reform movement, seeking to bring art back to the traditions of pre-Raphael and Michaelangelo. Perhaps the most famous of the Pre-Raphaelites are Dante Gabriel Rosetti, William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais. Later in this series I am BOUND to talk more about other works from these artists, but I thought 'A Huguenot' was a good one to start with.
The first thing you see when you look at the painting are the two lovers, wound around each other. As the title explains, the painting is based on the story of the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre, which happened in Paris in 1572. At this time a mob of Roman Catholics targeted and massacred the Huguenots, or French Protestants. Here, we see a a young couple who are trying to defy this battle between their religions. The girl, a Roman Catholic, is attempting to persuade her lover, a Huguenot, to disguise himself as a Catholic by wearing the symbolic white arm band. He seems to be pulling it away and refusing to wear it.
I think what struck me most and what I find incredible in this painting are the two facial expressions of the characters. I see nothing but pain, anguish and torment in the face of the girl, I almost want to cry when I look at her. But at the same time the man seems to be saying 'It's OK, we will be OK, we love each other and that is more important than religious war'. There is something about this that is so emotional and touching; it's like a Romeo and Juliet story.
There is also something almost heartbreaking in the fact that we don't know what will happen next in the lives of the lovers. We are caught in a moment here, but what will be their fate? Will he consent to wear the arm band so that they can have a chance of being together? Will they somehow escape toether? Or will the worst happen, that he get's caught and murdered with the other Huguenots, leaving his lover heartbroken?
Apart from the tragic story behind the painting, I also just find it amazingly beautiful. The detail in the foliage and brick wall behind the lovers, as well as the textures of their clothes; to me the painting almost feels like a window, through which we are looking in at them, intruding on their private moment.
I absolutely can't wait to share more of my favourite paintings by the Pre-Raphaelites! I would also really recommend reading some of their poetry; like their paintings, it is very beautiful and very Romantic.
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