The Pearl of Great Price (in "Good Words for 1863," opp. p. 533)
It took Millais seven years to design twenty images inspired by New Testament Parables for the Dalziel Brothers, and the resulting prints are considered pinnacles of wood engraved illustration. The artist wrote to his publishers, "I can do ordinary drawings as quickly as most men, but these designs can scarcely be regarded in the same light—each Parable I illustrate perhaps a dozen times before I fix [the image]." After completing a design, Millais transferred it to a woodblock coated with "Chinese" white for skilled engravers to carve. Finally, he reviewed proofs, and final adjustments were made before the final printing.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13: 45-46) states: "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." Pre-Raphaelite ideals shaped Millais's combination of detailed naturalism and down-to-earth imagery to produce a work distinctly different than most religious art of the period.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13: 45-46) states: "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." Pre-Raphaelite ideals shaped Millais's combination of detailed naturalism and down-to-earth imagery to produce a work distinctly different than most religious art of the period.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Pearl of Great Price (in "Good Words for 1863," opp. p. 533)
- Artist: After Sir John Everett Millais (British, Southampton 1829–1896 London)
- Engraver: Dalziel Brothers (British, active 1839–93)
- Date: 1863
- Medium: Wood engraving
- Dimensions: Sheet: 9 1/16 × 6 1/8 in. (23 × 15.5 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of Sinclair Hamilton, 1965
- Object Number: 65.629.3(2.29)
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.