Millais's Ophelia

Works in Focus
Millais' Ophelia

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Ophelia's TravelsSubject & MeaningJE MillaisOphelia Quiz

Infra-Red Reflectography

Ophelia under Infra-red radiation/light
Ophelia under infra-red
© Tate Photography, London 2003
Many paint pigments are more transparent to infra red radiation than to visible light. The greater transparency of the paint enables us to see any drawings under the paint. We cannot see this with our naked eyes. A photograph needs to be taken and processed for us to see the results of this type of examination. In this picture of Ophelia, (see right) we can see a slight shift in the position of the weeping willow.