The Escape of a Heretic – Sketch of the Girl and her Lover 1857

This pencil sketch, created in 1857 by the renowned Pre-Raphaelite artist Sir John Everett Millais, depicts a fleeting moment of clandestine love. The "Escape of a Heretic" is a preparatory drawing for a larger painting of the same name, which would feature a woman and her lover escaping religious persecution. Millais's use of loose, expressive lines captures the urgency and passion of the scene. The sketch is a testament to Millais's mastery of draftsmanship and his ability to convey emotion through simple means.