“Lear and Cordelia” is an oil painting on panel, created by John Everett Millais in 1891. The artwork, executed in the Realism art movement, measures 23 by 27 centimeters and belongs to the literary painting genre. Currently, it is housed in a private collection.
The artwork depicts a poignant and dramatic moment from William Shakespeare’s tragedy, “King Lear.” At the center of the composition sits King Lear, an elderly bearded man, with a distressed expression. Leaning toward him, his daughter Cordelia kisses him tenderly, their faces close, capturing a moment of reconciliation and deep emotion. Other figures surrounding Lear contribute to the intensity of the scene, each seemingly absorbed in their individual responses to the unfolding drama. The muted and somber tones of the painting, coupled with the detailed rendering of expressions and gestures, draw the viewer into the emotional depth and complexity of the narrative. The depiction is evocative of Millais’ mastery in conveying human emotion and his commitment to the realist portrayal of literary subjects.
