What you are looking at
Ophelia from Shakespeare's Hamlet floats in a stream, singing, just before she drowns, surrounded by flowers and dense riverbank plants painted leaf by leaf.
Why it is famous
Millais painted the riverbank outdoors in Surrey and then the figure in his studio, where Elizabeth Siddal posed in a bathtub of water. It is the best known painting of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
How big is Ophelia?
Ophelia measures 76.2 × 111.8 cm (30.0 × 44.0 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 2 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is at Tate Britain in London, where the main collection is free.
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Also at the Tate Britain
Frequently asked questions
Who painted Ophelia?
John Everett Millais painted Ophelia in 1851 to 1852.
Where is Ophelia?
Ophelia is in the Tate Britain, London, United Kingdom.
How big is Ophelia?
76.2 × 111.8 cm (30.0 × 44.0 in). Its surface is about 2 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is Ophelia made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: Tate, "The story of Ophelia"; Wikipedia, "Ophelia (painting)"; Wikidata Q226199; Wikipedia, "Ophelia". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.