Peace Concluded 1856

Sir John Everett Millais painted "Peace Concluded" on canvas; the artwork is now held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The image depicts a domestic scene of a family reacting to news of a peace treaty, likely the end of the Crimean War in 1856. Here, Millais engages with Victorian society's concerns. The painting reflects the period's intense interest in the Crimean War through the lens of domesticity and sentimentality. Millais uses the visual language of Victorian painting to create meaning. The father wears a war medal, and the mother holds a newspaper, signifying the event that has changed the family's life. The children play with toys, seemingly oblivious to the significance of the war. The painting reflects the values of the Victorian middle class, where the home was seen as a refuge from the outside world. Art historians use sources like letters, diaries, and newspapers to understand the original context. The meaning of art always depends on the social conditions of its creation.