+Born 1827.+
Although our first portrait shows Sir John Millais at the early age of
twenty-two, he was already an important figure in the world of Art;
for he had gained his first medal at the Society of Arts when only
nine, and had, like Mr. Watts, exhibited his first picture in the Royal
Academy at seventeen. At the age of this portrait he had founded, with
Holman Hunt and D. G. Rossetti, the famous Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood,
of which the object was to depict Nature, not as tinged by the
imagination, but as they really saw it; a movement which was at first
received with the most violent abuse, but which, greatly owing to the
eloquent support of Mr. Ruskin, at last made good its way. Two years
later he was elected A.R.A., and ten years afterwards, R.A. At the age
depicted in our second portrait he was known, as he is still, as a
painter without rival in range, manliness, and vigour, and in bold and
masterly brush-work. In the year 1885 the Queen marked her sense of his
commanding abilities by conferring upon him the honour of a baronetcy.
[Illustration:
_From a_ +AGE 40.+
_Photograph._]
[Illustration:
_From a Photo. by_ +PRESENT DAY.+
_Messrs. Window & Grove._]
[Illustration:
_From a Photo._ +AGE 17.+
_by Maull & Co._]
[Illustration:
_From a Photo. by_ +AGE 32.+
_Hills & Saunders._]