The Resume

(June 8, 1829-August 13, 1896)
Born in Southampton, England, United Kingdom
Painter and illustrator
Founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
Paintings include 'Christ in the House of His Parents' (1850), 'Ophelia' (1852), 'The Order of Release' (1853), 'Chill October' (1870), 'The Two Princes Edward and Richard in the Tower' (1878) and 'Bubbles' (1886)
Illustrated novels by Trollope and poems by Tennyson

Why he might be annoying:

He fell in love with Effie Gray, the wife of his friend and mentor John Ruskin.
After he and Effie married, his painting style changed, leading to charges of selling out from the other Pre-Raphaelites.
He was accused of 'prostituting his talent' after his painting 'Bubbles' was used in ads for Pears Soap.
Critic Arthur Symons wrote, 'He deliberately abandoned a career which, with labor, might have made him the greatest painter of his age, in order to become with ease, the richest and the most popular.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He was the youngest pupil ever at the Royal Academy of Art, being admitted at age 11.
Ruskin had refused to have sex with Effie during their six-year marriage, making one suspect they were headed for trouble whether or not Millais had shown up.
Under the copyright laws of the day, he had no control over his paintings once they were sold, so he could not have stopped 'Bubbles' from being used in ads.
He was granted a baronetcy, becoming the first artist honored with a hereditary title (1885).

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 19th Century Painters
• Breeders [Have 5 or More Kids] (Ranked: 8)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 45]
• Eminent Victorians
• I Have Throat Cancer
• Knights
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Painters
• People with John or Mary in their Names
• Profiles 33501-33750 (Ranked: 33582)
• Wife Thieves

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 27.27% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying