John Everett Millais' 'Vanessa'.

'Vanessa' by Millais.


And who might this sullen-faced, raven-haired lady be, clad in such rich, sumptuous materials and embellishments? John Everett Millais, a British artist Daguerrian Dandy favours very much, produced this work,titled 'Vanessa' in 1868. Millais offers us a glimpse of, or rather his interpretation of, a lady whom Jonathan Swift (known to most modern folk as the author of 'Gulliver's Travels', he also employed himself in the task of political writing, poetry and marvellous wig-wearing. Swift is said to have been a rather witty, cheek old chap, making all sorts of outrageous, eccentric statements designed to ruffle feathers, garner chuckles and ignite social change) was writing back and forth to. Her birth name was Esther, though Swift referred to her as Vanessa. It seems there is no portrait or illustration in existence of Vanessa, therefore Millais can of course only offer his viewers his own idea of her. Vanessa, it seems from surviving records, was a little short in the looks department, though Millais has worked his magic here and awarded her a much more palatable visage. Swift ended up leaving his Vanessa for another lady, also by the name of Esther (this could be some sort of  late 17th/early 18th century soap opera). Suggestions have been made that Vanessa is in possession of Swift's 'Dear Jane' letter, so to speak. Uh oh....