The Knight Errant by John Everett Millais (Interpretation and Analysis)

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The Knight Errant
Source: The Tate
The Pre-Raphaelite movement was truly an extraordinary time in the history of art. The Pre-Raphaelites threw out the rule book of art, rejecting the conventions of their age in favor of returning to an earlier style of art. As the name suggests, the Pre-Raphaelites were inspired by early Italian artists and the art of the Medieval age. Their work focused on realism and vibrancy, rich and energetic.

John Everett Millais was one of the most talented artists of his age. Although he began his artistic career as a Pre-Raphaelite, Millais later developed his own unique and mature style. The Knight Errant is an example of this unique style. The painting depicts a traditional Medieval theme, the Knight Errant. Here, we see a knight clad in armor rescuing a woman who has been stripped and tied to a tree. Millais's inscription, which accompanied the painting, read, “The order of Knights errant was instituted to protect widows and orphans, and to succour maidens in distress.”

The painting was controversial due to Millais’ realistic treatment of the nude lady. According to my research, “The Knight Errant was Millais's first and only attempt at painting the female nude and critical reviews of the painting focussed on his treatment of the unclothed woman. Millais's naturalistic approach was compared with the continental practice of idealising the nude and placing it in a classical setting, a model that was adhered to in England at this time.”

The painting was certainly ahead of its time, a modern look at a Medieval subject. The realism of Millais’ painting contrasts with the unreality of the subject. However, it is this contrast that makes the subject dynamic and interesting.

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