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This historical
genre picture shows one of the consequences of the unsuccessful Jacobite rebellion
of 1746, which was lead by Bonnie Prince Charlie. Millais
painted this canvass entirely in the studio, having looked for
an authentic background and failed to find one. One must assume
that the prisoner to be released was very lucky, as the
rebellion was put down with the utmost cruelty by the Duke of
Cumberland. The prisoner, in his tartan kilt is taken to his
wife, baby, and an extremely enthusiastic collie dog, whose
exuberant behaviour made him a nightmare to paint. The wife was
modeled by Effie Millais, who commented on the infinite pains
he took with the picture, and the consequent extended time it
took to complete. The son of the painter John Guille Millais
commented that the likeness of his mother was perfect. The
woman appears to be very self-assured, though there is the
implication she has obtained the release of her husband by a
sexual favour. Looking at it again to write this, I feel
that I had previously much underestimated it.
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