John Everett Millais's Ophelia (1851) is the best-known painting in Tate Britain; after it come Herbert James Draper's The Lament for Icarus (1898), Dante Gabriel Rossetti's Proserpine (1874) and John Everett Millais's Mariana (1851).
Below, the 10 paintings of Tate Britain that are most widely known — painted from 1842 to 1898 by 7 painters — with their date, medium and size.
The originals
The 10 famous paintings of Tate Britain our artists study first
The painter, the date, the medium and the dimensions of each original, with a note from its page.
- Ophelia by John Everett Millais, 1851
- The Lament for Icarus by Herbert James Draper, 1898
- Proserpine by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1874
- Mariana by John Everett Millais, 1851
- The Great Day of His Wrath by John Martin, 1851
- Christ in the House of His Parents by John Everett Millais, 1849–1850
- Hope by George Frederic Watts, 1886
- Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth by J. M. W. Turner, 1842
- The Annunciation by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1849
- Chatterton by Henry Wallis, 1856
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John Everett Millais (1829–1896)
1. Ophelia by John Everett Millais, 1851
Tate Britain, London1851Oil on canvas76.2 × 111.8 cm
This commitment to realism, coupled with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood’s fascination with medieval and Renaissance art, resulted in a work that feels simultaneously ancient and utterly contemporary. Elizabeth Siddall, Millais’s model for Ophelia, endured an extraordinary ordeal to achieve this portrayal. The willow branch, a traditional symbol of mourning, drapes over the riverbank, mirroring Ophelia’s descent into sorrow.
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Herbert James Draper (1863–1920)
2. The Lament for Icarus by Herbert James Draper, 1898
Tate Britain, London1898Oil on canvas155.6 × 182.9 cm
Draper, a virtuoso of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, utilizes a rich and vibrant palette to breathe life into this ancient tale. The presence of celestial or divine figures—perhaps a watchful Venus or Aphrodite—adds a layer of mythological complexity, suggesting that while the tragedy is deeply personal, it is also witnessed by the very gods who govern the fates of mortals.
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Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882)
3. Proserpine by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1874
Tate Britain, London1874Oil on canvas6 × 125 cm
Dante Gabriel Rossetti's "Proserpine," painted in 1874, is more than simply a portrait; it’s a poignant meditation on loss, longing, and the bittersweet nature of eternal beauty. Rossetti’s style is undeniably rooted in Pre-Raphaelite aesthetics, a movement he helped pioneer. "Proserpine" offers a rare glimpse into the emotional landscape of Victorian England, a period grappling with themes of mortality, beauty, and the constraints placed upon women. Rossetti’s choice of Jane Morris as Proserpine is particularly revealing; she herself was deeply connected to the Pre-Raphaelite movement and possessed an innate understanding of its aesthetic principles.
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John Everett Millais (1829–1896)
4. Mariana by John Everett Millais, 1851
Tate Britain, London1851Oil49 × 59 cm
The subject, identified as Mariana from Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure,” is positioned near a window adorned with stained glass panels depicting the Annunciation. “Mariana” is rich in symbolic meaning, reflecting the anxieties and sensibilities of Victorian society. Furthermore, the reference to Tennyson’s poem adds another layer of interpretation.
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John Martin (1789–1854)
5. The Great Day of His Wrath by John Martin, 1851
Tate Britain, London1851Oil on canvas303 × 196 cm
In the heart of the nineteenth century, few images could stir the Victorian soul with as much terror and awe as John Martin’s The Great Day of His Wrath. The scene captures the precise moment of biblical apocalypse, where the heavens fracture and the earth itself seems to dissolve into fire and shadow. Scholars often suggest that the painting was influenced by the rapid industrialization of England; the sight of the "Black Country" with its fiery furnaces and dark, soot-covered skies likely provided a contemporary mirror to the biblical destruction of Babylon.
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John Everett Millais (1829–1896)
6. Christ in the House of His Parents by John Everett Millais, 1849–1850
Tate Britain, London1849–1850Oil on canvas39 × 86 cm
The oil painting titled Christ in the House of His Parents (`The Carpenter's Shop') was created by John Everett Millais between 1849 and 1850. It captures a quiet, industrious moment within Saint Joseph's carpentry workshop. The scene focuses on the Holy Family, grounding the sacred in the grit of manual labor. In this work, John Everett Millais depicts Jesus as a young boy. One prominent critic saw only a wry-necked, blubbering red-headed boy in a bed-gown, a figure stripped of all divine grace.
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George Frederic Watts (1817–1904)
7. Hope by George Frederic Watts, 1886
Tate Britain, London1886Oil on canvas111 × 142 cm
The piece immediately draws the viewer in with its muted palette – predominantly deep blues, browns, and greys—creating an atmosphere of contemplative melancholy. At the heart of “Hope” sits a woman, shrouded in a veil that obscures her face, yet radiating an undeniable sense of inner strength.
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J. M. W. Turner (1775–1851)
8. Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth by J. M. W. Turner, 1842
Tate Britain, London1842Oil on canvas91 × 122 cm
The scene unfolds as a dramatic interplay of light, color, and movement, capturing a fleeting moment where human endeavor – represented by the steam-boat – confronts the untamed forces of the sea. Impasto for Texture: Strategic use of impasto – thick application of paint – adds textural richness, particularly in areas representing the rough surface of the waves and the billowing clouds, grounding the ethereal atmosphere with tangible form.
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Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882)
9. The Annunciation by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1849
Tate Britain, London1849Oil on canvas41 × 72 cm
This daring approach distinguishes it from its predecessors and establishes Rossetti as a pioneer of psychological depth within religious painting. The artwork portrays Mary, the mother of Jesus, confronted by Gabriel, the angel tasked with announcing the miraculous conception. Executed in oil paint on canvas, “The Annunciation” exemplifies the meticulous craftsmanship characteristic of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. The angel’s outstretched hand bearing the lily—a traditional emblem of virginity and divine grace —represents God's benevolent intervention in Mary’s life.
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Henry Wallis (1830–1916)
10. Chatterton by Henry Wallis, 1856
Tate Britain, London1856Oil on canvas62.2 × 93.3 cm
The work portrays the young man after he poisoned himself with arsenic in 1770. The exhibition history of this oil painting began in 1856, when it was first shown at the Royal Academy summer exhibition. Following this debut, the work was presented at the Art Treasures Exhibition in Manchester in 1857. In 1854, he produced Shakespeare’s House, a work that depicts the town of Stratford-upon-Avon with precision. Additionally, he produced a version of The Death of Chatterton in 1858.
The collection in figures
The originals of Tate Britain in our catalogue
326 originals of Tate Britain — paintings and works on paper — century by century
The originals in figures
- 10 originals, ranked by fame, 7 painters of the originals, J. M. W. Turner to Herbert James Draper.
- Painters with the most originals here: John Everett Millais (3), Dante Gabriel Rossetti (2), Herbert James Draper (1).
- J. M. W. Turner's Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth (1842) – Herbert James Draper's The Lament for Icarus (1898).
- John Martin's The Great Day of His Wrath (1851), 303 × 196 cm – Dante Gabriel Rossetti's Proserpine (1874), 6 × 125 cm.
- 337 originals of Tate Britain in our catalogue: 326 paintings and works on paper by 135 artists, 1545–2014.
The countries the painters of Tate Britain came from
The painters with the most originals at Tate Britain
Two museums
Tate Britain and the National Gallery: two collections of originals
Tate Britain
- Originals in our catalogue
- 337
- Painted between
- 1545 – 2014, most from the 19th century
- Most famous originals
- Ophelia, The Lament for Icarus, Proserpine
- Most originals by
- J. M. W. Turner, John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti
The National Gallery
- Originals in our catalogue
- 2,459
- Painted between
- 1250 – 2002, most from the 17th century
- Most famous originals
- Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife, The Hay Wain, Double Portrait of Jean de Dinteville and Georges de Selve (also known as The Ambassadors)
- Most originals by
- Titien, Rembrandt, Camille Corot
Questions to the studio
Questions about the originals of Tate Britain
Open a question to read our answer.
Which painting in Tate Britain is the most famous?
John Everett Millais's Ophelia (1851) is the most famous painting in Tate Britain and No. 1 of this ranking, ahead of Herbert James Draper's The Lament for Icarus (1898), Dante Gabriel Rossetti's Proserpine (1874) and John Everett Millais's Mariana (1851).
Which five paintings of Tate Britain are the most famous?
The five best-known paintings of Tate Britain are Ophelia by John Everett Millais, The Lament for Icarus by Herbert James Draper, Proserpine by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Mariana by John Everett Millais and The Great Day of His Wrath by John Martin.
Which John Everett Millais paintings hang in Tate Britain?
3 of the 10 paintings of this ranking are by John Everett Millais: Ophelia (No. 1), Mariana (No. 4) and Christ in the House of His Parents (No. 6). Our catalogue lists 13 records of Millais's works at Tate Britain.
Are there any Dante Gabriel Rossetti paintings in Tate Britain?
2 of the 10 paintings of this ranking are by Dante Gabriel Rossetti: Proserpine (No. 3) and The Annunciation (No. 9). Our catalogue lists 11 records of Rossetti's works at Tate Britain.
Which Herbert James Draper paintings hang in Tate Britain?
1 of the 10 paintings of this ranking are by Herbert James Draper: The Lament for Icarus (No. 2). Our catalogue lists 1 records of Draper's works at Tate Britain.
What are the 10 most famous paintings in Tate Britain?
The ten best-known paintings of Tate Britain are Ophelia (John Everett Millais), The Lament for Icarus (Herbert James Draper), Proserpine (Dante Gabriel Rossetti), Mariana (John Everett Millais), The Great Day of His Wrath (John Martin), Christ in the House of His Parents (John Everett Millais), Hope (George Frederic Watts), Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth (J. M. W. Turner), The Annunciation (Dante Gabriel Rossetti) and Chatterton (Henry Wallis).
In which city is Tate Britain?
Tate Britain is in London, United Kingdom. Our catalogue lists 337 of its works by 135 artists, dated 1545 to 2014; the 10 paintings of this ranking are all in its collection.
Should I visit Tate Britain or the National Gallery for paintings?
They cover different centuries. The 326 paintings of Tate Britain in our catalogue are dated 1545 to 2014, most of them from the 19th century; the 2,446 of the National Gallery are dated 1250 to 2002. The best-known paintings of the National Gallery are Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife, The Hay Wain and Double Portrait of Jean de Dinteville and Georges de Selve (also known as The Ambassadors).
Which three works is Tate Britain most famous for?
the J.M.W. Turner landscapes, the Medieval illuminated manuscripts and the Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth are the three works everyone comes to Tate Britain for; the museum's record also names the The Lady of Shalott by Waterhouse.
Which is the earliest painting of this ranking?
The earliest is J. M. W. Turner's Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth (1842) (1842); the latest, Herbert James Draper's The Lament for Icarus (1898) (1898).
Which of these paintings is the biggest?
John Martin's The Great Day of His Wrath (1851), 303 × 196 cm. The smallest is Dante Gabriel Rossetti's Proserpine (1874), 6 × 125 cm.
How is this ranking made?
The paintings of Tate Britain in our catalogue are ranked by how widely each one is known: the number of Wikipedia language editions with an article on it (Wikidata sitelinks), its place in our catalogue's manual ranking and the visits its page receives. The same painting catalogued several times counts once; details, copies and studies are left out.
The house of the originals
Tate Britain in London: history and collections of the originals
Tate Britain (National Gallery of British Art, Tate Gallery, British Museum) — art museum — in London, United Kingdom. Its collection counts over 500 years of British art. Its highlights: J.M.W. Turner landscapes, Medieval illuminated manuscripts, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, The Lady of Shalott by Waterhouse. Our catalogue lists 326 of its paintings and works on paper, by 135 artists, dated 1545 to 2014.
The Origins and History of Tate Britain
The foundations of Tate Britain were laid by Sir Henry Tate, whose vision established a dedicated space for the nation's artistic output. The institution opened its doors on 21 July 1897, initially operating under the name National Gallery of British Art. This early period focused on securing a permanent home for the country's visual history, building a collection that would grow alongside the changing landscape of British creativity. As the decades progressed, the institution's identity shifted to reflect its expanding role. From 1897 until 1932, it maintained its designation as the National Gallery of British Art. Following this, the name was changed to the Tate Gallery, a title it held for much of the twentieth century. This era saw the institution evolve through significant cultural shifts, eventually leading to the name Tate Britain in March 2000. The site itself occupies a significant location in London, situated on the former grounds of the Millbank Prison.
The Grand Architecture and Building Design
Situated on Millbank in the City of Westminster, London, England, the building occupies the site of the former Millbank Prison. Construction was undertaken by Higgs and Hill, resulting in a structure that balances classical proportions with modern sensibilities. The architectural presence is defined by this dialogue between tradition and contemporary design. In 1970, the building was granted Grade II listed status. This project included the creation of nine new galleries, which feature reinforced flooring to support the weight of heavy sculptures. The layout facilitates a sense of continuity between the historical fabric of the building and its current function.
A Vast Collection of British Art
The collection encompasses over 500 years of British art, acting as a national gallery for the nation's creative output from 1500 to the present day. It holds a substantial assembly of works dating back to the Tudor era. These pieces exist as physical presences that trace the evolution of a specific visual language through the centuries. Large holdings of works by J.M. W. Turner occupy a significant portion of the holdings, offering a deep look into his specific approach to light and atmosphere. The breadth of the collection extends into the modern and contemporary eras, where the presence of artists such as David Hockney, Peter Blake, and Francis Bacon provides a connection to more recent developments in British expression. Each era is represented by the specific materials and techniques of its time. Ophelia, 1851 the Lady of Shalott, 1888 the Shipwreck, 1805 Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, 1944
Exhibitions and Artistic Dialogue
The museum functions as a site for ongoing critical engagement through its curated displays. Every other year, the halls host the annual Turner Prize exhibition, an event that brings contemporary focus to the institution. This cycle of programming ensures that the dialogue between historical collections and current movements remains active. Recent years have seen the presentation of " David Hockney: Arrival," which examined the use of iPad technology in capturing landscapes and portraits. Such exhibitions demonstrate how artistic mediums adapt to technological shifts while maintaining their expressive power. The scope of these presentations extends to global perspectives and specific atmospheric studies. The exhibition "Nigerian Modernism " explored the movements that emerged in Nigeria during the mid-20th century, highlighting artists who challenged colonial narratives through experimentation. Additionally, the museum has held exhibitions focused on the works of Claude Monet, specifically looking at his fascination with fleeting moments and atmospheric effects, such as the way light reflects off the Thames in " the London Harbour."
5 facts about the home of the originals
- Who founded Tate Britain in 1897?Sir Henry Tate
- Which artist is noted for having a large collection of works at Tate Britain, including 'The Shipwreck' and 'Fishermen at Sea'?J.M.W. Turner
- The Clore Gallery, which houses a significant collection of Turner works, was designed by whom?James Stirling
- What was the original name of Tate Britain from 1897 to 1932?The National Gallery of British Art
- In which city is Tate Britain located?London
Tate Britain: every original we catalogueThe museums of London
To read
Three articles on the originals and their painters
The painter of the first original
Masterpieces of John Everett Millais: The Top 25 Essential Works
3 of the 10 originals are by John Everett Millais.
The other great museum in London
25 Must-See Masterpieces at the National Gallery, London
2,459 originals in our catalogue.
The painter with the most originals here
Masterpieces of Passion: The Top 25 Artworks by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
3 of the 10 originals are by John Everett Millais.
How the originals are ranked
The originals of Tate Britain in our catalogue are ranked by fame: the Wikipedia language editions that describe the painting, our studio's ranking and the visits to its page on OriginalUniqueArt.com. One entry per original, counted in our catalogue and not in the museum's inventory, without details, copies, studies, sculptures or works on paper; every date, dimension and medium is the catalogue's, and the notes are drawn from the painting's description.
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