Study for ‘The Black Brunswicker’ c. 1860

Curator: Here we have a pencil sketch by Sir John Everett Millais, from the Tate Collections, titled “Study for ‘The Black Brunswicker.’” It measures approximately 199 by 117 millimeters. Editor: My initial impression is one of restrained sorrow, a farewell captured in tentative lines. The vulnerability is palpable. Curator: Indeed. This sketch is preparatory work for Millais's painting depicting a scene during the Napoleonic Wars. The Black Brunswicker was a regiment that famously fought against Napoleon, and their dark uniforms became symbolic of defiance and mourning. Editor: The woman’s pale dress contrasts starkly against the implied darkness of his uniform, highlighting her grief. Even in this sketch, the flag visible behind them adds weight. Flags are potent symbols of cultural identity. Curator: Yes, Millais was acutely aware of the symbolic power of clothing and setting. In the final painting, the torn poster on the wall further contextualizes the historical moment and amplifies the emotional tension. Editor: The sketch’s intimacy reveals universal themes of love and loss. It is about farewells, but also about the social impact of warfare in that era. Curator: Absolutely. It's fascinating to see the evolution of an idea from a simple sketch to a powerful historical narrative. Editor: It makes one think about how even preliminary sketches have the power to encapsulate larger cultural narratives.