The Yeoman of the Guard

The Yeoman of the Guard, held at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath, depicts a Yeoman Warder — one of the ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London, popularly known as Beefeaters — in the distinctive Tudor costume that has remained essentially unchanged since the reign of Henry VIII. The Yeomen of the Guard were among the most recognisable symbols of English ceremonial tradition, and their elaborate uniform of red and gold Tudor dress had become iconic by the Victorian period, appealing to a national pride in continuous royal and military tradition. Millais's treatment of such a subject was consistent with his sustained interest in subjects that combined striking costume with historical resonance. The painting also had practical appeal — the richly decorated Tudor uniform provided excellent material for Millais's fluid handling of elaborate fabric and gold braid.

The Tudor costume of a Yeoman provides exceptional pictorial material: rich crimson fabric, gold and black embroidery, the elaborate hat with its decorative plume. Millais renders these with the confident handling of a painter who relished complex textile subjects. The figure is given a warm, dignified bearing appropriate to the ceremonial gravity of the role.