Ruling Passion 

Sir John Everett Millais captured this scene using oil paints, a traditional medium capable of rendering minute details. Look at the variety of textures he's achieved, from the children's soft skin to the plumage of the birds. What's striking here is the tension between the artist’s meticulous technique and the subject itself. We see a family gathered around a man, presumably an ornithologist, whose consuming passion is the study of birds, many of which are stuffed. The textures and forms of the birds are beautifully captured through skilled brushwork. This craft-like attention contrasts with the realities of scientific collection in the Victorian era; this involved acquiring specimens on a massive scale, impacting bird populations globally. Millais uses his mastery of paint to depict not just the beauty of the birds, but also a practice with a dark side, raising questions about labor, nature, and collecting. It challenges us to consider the social and environmental costs of scientific pursuits, reminding us that art can reveal uncomfortable truths.