Statue of John Everett Millais

The bronze statue of Sir John Everett Millais standing on John Islip Street depicts the celebrated artist in his professional element. Sculpted by Thomas Brock and unveiled in 1904, the figure holds a palette in one hand and a brush in the other, capturing the posture of a painter at work. You can even see his artist's stool near his feet, complete with tiny carved drawers for storage. This monument serves as a tribute to one of the nineteenth century’s most influential figures, a man who helped found the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood before eventually serving as the President of the Royal Academy. The statue originally stood in a much more prominent location directly in front of the Tate Gallery, but it was moved to this quieter spot behind the building in 2000. It remains a fixture of the area, silently watching over the path where many visitors make their way toward the gallery entrance.