The Death of Romeo and Juliet

Millais's The Death of Romeo and Juliet of 1848 depicts the final scene of Shakespeare's tragedy — Romeo dying from poison beside the supposedly dead Juliet in the Capulet vault — in the meticulous figurative style of his pre-Pre-Raphaelite period. The painting demonstrates his extraordinary ability as a draftsman and his mastery of dramatic composition before the Brotherhood's influence redirected him toward more radical stylistic experimentation. The Shakespearean subject placed him in the mainstream tradition of British literary painting while his technical virtuosity announced a talent that would rapidly transcend academic convention.

The dramatic composition demonstrates the young Millais's ability to handle complex figure groups with emotional conviction. The rich palette and careful attention to costume and setting anticipate the meticulous approach of his fully realized Pre-Raphaelite works.