The Escape of a Heretic, 1559

In 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 handwritten fictitious account of how a heretic escaped from an Inquisition prison on the day she would be executed in 1559. 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 disguised as a monk. She escaped wearing the clothes of her jailer, who can be seen bound and gagged in the background.