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Photography by: Reinaldo Torres Ruiz, Museo de Arte de Ponce. The Luis A. Ferré Foundation, Inc…
The Escape of a Heretic, 1559
Photography by: Reinaldo Torres Ruiz, Museo de Arte de Ponce. The Luis A. Ferré Foundation, Inc…
Photography by: Reinaldo Torres Ruiz, Museo de Arte de Ponce. The Luis A. Ferré Foundation, Inc.
Photography by: Reinaldo Torres Ruiz, for the project “Facilitating Access and Discovery: Development and Enhancement of the Museo de Arte de Ponce Collection Database” made possible with fund from IMLS (MA-30-17-0478-17)

The Escape of a Heretic, 1559

Artist (British, 1829 - 1896)
Date1857
Object number65.0568
Mediumoil on canvas
Dimensions43 1/8 × 31 1/8 in. (109.5 × 79.1 cm)
frame: 56 1/2 × 44 5/8 × 4 in. (143.5 × 113.3 × 10.2 cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineMuseo de Arte de Ponce. The Luis A. Ferré Foundation, Inc.
On View
Not on view
DescriptionIn the 1850s, Millais developed a tradition within British history-painting, based on presenting imaginary anecdotes from the past in which ordinary individuals face challenging situations beyond their control. This painting was shown next to a fictitious written account of how in 1559 a heretic escaped from the Inquisition prison on the day she would be executed. The woman, wearing the yellow sambenito and pointed hat of those condemned to the stake, was rescued by her lover, who came into the prison dressed up as a monk. She escaped wearing the clothes of her jailer, who can be seen bound and gagged in the background.
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