Tennyson’s Dora – Figure Studies 1856

Sir John Everett Millais captured these figure studies in pencil, preparing for his painting inspired by Tennyson’s poem. The maternal embrace at the center evokes images of the Madonna and Child, a motif that has been prevalent in art since the early Christians adapted it from earlier pagan images of motherhood. Consider the pose: the mother bowed protectively over her child. This echoes ancient depictions of goddesses safeguarding their offspring, symbolizing nurturing and protection. We see echoes of this motif through the ages. But here, it’s not only religious, it speaks to universal themes of love and sacrifice. The gesture of the figure hiding her face in her arms is very evocative of grief. This posture has recurred throughout art history in moments of mourning. It taps into our collective understanding of sorrow, bypassing rational thought and engaging us on a primal, emotional level. This visual language resonates, carrying echoes of shared human experience across time. The symbol resurfaces, evolving, yet still profoundly affecting.