The Princes in the Tower

By John Everett Millais

1878
On oil and on canvas
height: 147.2 cm (57.9 in); width: 91.4 cm (35.9 in)

The painting "Princes in the Tower" by John Everett Millais is a haunting and vivid
representation of one of the most infamous moments in British history. The image is beautiful,
powerful and eerie in equal measure; the deep blue tones and evocative use of shading and light
create an atmosphere of foreboding and tragedy.

The painting depicts the two young sons of King Edward IV, Prince Edward and Prince
Richard, who were locked up in the Tower of London by their uncle, Richard III, after Edward's
death in 1483. The two princes are portrayed standing next to each other, holding hands with fear
and bewilderment evident in their eyes, unaware of the deadly fate that awaits them. The
painting captures the sorrowful and hopeless atmosphere of the two young princes who were
never seen again after their imprisonment. The viewer is left with an overwhelming sense of
sorrow and horror at the thought of what will happen to these innocent children.

Looking at the painting, one can feel a sense of melancholy and despair. The painting's
composition is like a theatrical scene, rich in detail and symbolism. Their dark clothing is
reflection of the violent, secretive nature of the act. The details in the painting such as the lack of
light all add to the to the somber tone of the piece. What is particularly striking about the
painting is the emotion on the faces of the young princes. They look sad, scared, and resigned to
their fate. The fact that they are not looking at or acknowledging each other adds to the sense that
they have lost all hope. The attention to detail in the painting, along with the emotion on the
faces of the boys, creates a sense of sadness and despair that stays with the viewer long after they
have left the painting. In addition, the painting has a clear message that the princes’ fate may
never have been discovered, and the killer may have gotten away with it, is made even more
haunting by the fact that nobody is truly aware of the exact nature of what happened to the
brothers
 In the present there are multiple theories raising about what happened to these innocent
princes. Many have suspicions that their own uncle, Richard, may have been responsible to this
such tragedy that happened to these young boys. Much has been guessed at, concluded, revised
and looked at again for almost every single aspect of their death and yet there is still hasn’t been
a conclusion.

Millais' artwork is extraordinary because even though it is expressed through his unique
style, the painting makes you question what happened to the young princes. Did they die in the
tower alone? Were they murdered? The painting raises these questions but does not give any
clear answers. Instead, it captures the tragedy and uncertainty of the situation at hand. The artist
had done an amazing work in capturing deep and haunting emotions that can be seen in the
painting.

In conclusion, the picture is a window into the past that evokes emotions, causes us to
reflect on a senseless act of violence, and causes us to consider the effects of power struggles. It's
an old story, yet it still has the power to remind us of things we should never forget, like the
innocent lives sacrificed when ambition succeeds over morality.