This was an excellent presentation by Barbara Webb on Millais and the Hogsmill River; she gave an action packed account of her research on this subject and illustrated her findings with diagrammatic maps and illustrations.
It is recommended those readers who find this historical information on local history fascinating are well advised to obtain her publication.
Millais and the Hogsmill River By Barbara C L Webb
ISBN 9530074 0 5 Revised 1998
Barbara started by saying she has lived in Old Malden, now part of the outer London Borough of Kingston upon Thames, nearly all her life, not far from the Hogsmill River. Since 1970 has been actively involved with nature conservation issues in the Hogsmill Valley. It was not until the exhibition of Pre-Raphaelite paintings at the Tate Gallery in 1984 that she really became aware of the influence of this area on some of the most important and well known pre-Raphaelite pictures.
This exhibition focused her interest and there were articles in the local press describing how the area featured in these paintings. There were contradictions in what was written, especially as to where Millais had painted the background to Ophelia.
Barbara explained that the Hogsmill River rises from springs, which are part of the spring line along the bottom of the north-facing slope of the North Downs. Settlements such as Ewell developed all along this line. The Hogsmill River flows generally north and joins the River Thames at Kingston; a distance of about seven miles, Ewell has been a settlement since pre-historic times. It is on the route of the Roman Stone Street and in 1850's was a thriving village of nearly two thousand inhabitants.
Barbara stated from known historical data that Millais and Hunt looked for suitable backgrounds for their proposed pictures of 'Ophelia in the Stream' along the Hogsmill River.
Barbara founded her argument for the precise location based on three strands of evidence as follows:-
Firstly, study of the area from maps and on the ground in conjunction with what Millais and Hunt wrote.
Secondly, study of the actual picture of Ophelia in relation to the topography
Thirdly, her research into the extent of Millais's acquaintance with the local Vicar who gives us the only precise location by a contemporary of that time.
Each statement reinforces and does not contradict the other.
Barbara has been led to conclude the background of 'Ophelia in the Stream' was painted from the meadow beside the Hogsmill River at Malden, looking towards the riverbank at the bottom of the Manor House garden. Millais completed the picture in 1852, which resides in the Tate Gallery London.
PLEASE Note before viewing this map. [My understanding from the book was the painting site was just up-stream of the Sheephouse Way footbridge - Barbara emphasised that it had a high bank behind.
It is upstream of the bridge where the Hogsmill cuts past the bottom of the small hill that is topped by Old Malden Manor church. Downstream of the bridge, all is flat.
Barbara also wrote of a footpath Millais used that was later cut by the Tolworth to Malden Manor railway when it was built.
This put the site upstream of the Rail Bridge.
Manor Farm Close is the road nearest to my understanding of the Ophelia site. The church is just to the south west of that, and the river beyond. It is down hill all the way from the church to the stream.
Millais would have been sitting on the far bank facing the hill.
comment with thanks to Steve Bush
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This was a powerful presentation full of facts which supported her case and again those wishing for more precise details can do no better than to obtain a copy of her book.
Millais and the Hogsmill River by Barbara C L Webb
ISBN 9530074 0 5
A vote of thanks on behalf of Probus Club of Ewell was expressed and the membership gave a splendid round of applause for a most fulfilling lecture.
For those wishing to see copies of the painting 'Ophelia in the Stream' online should CLICK here for pre-Raphaelite paintings.
