![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/John_Everett_Millais_-_Ophelia_-_Google_Art_Project-1024x696.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: John Everett Millais, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: John Everett Millais, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n
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London is no stranger to the limelight when it comes to Taylor Swift<\/strong>. Her love of our capital city<\/a> has been pretty well-documented in her lyrics over the years. And whilst there\u2019s no direct mention of the Big Smoke in her recently-released album, The Life of a Showgirl<\/strong>; there is a pretty hefty nod towards an iconic painting. And where can that painting be found, I hear you ask? London<\/strong>, of course.<\/p>\n The lead single from the shiny new album comes in the form of \u2018The Fate of Ophelia\u2019; an upbeat tune with a rather downbeat undertone. The lyrics reimagine the tragic destiny of the doomed character of Ophelia<\/strong> from Shakespeare\u2019s Hamlet. And the freshly-premiered music video, and the album cover itself, both heavily reference a very famous painting<\/strong> of the character.<\/p>\n So if you\u2019re looking for another item to add to your to-do Tay-do list, and you fancy getting up-close-and-personal with the artwork<\/a> in question; I\u2019d highly recommend you heading in the direction of Tate Britain<\/strong>. Because that, my dear Swifties, is who John Everett Millais\u2019 beloved painting<\/strong> has belonged to for almost 130 years.<\/p>\n Painted between 1851 and 1852<\/strong>, Ophelia depicts the moment in which the distressed and deceived Hamlet character drowns in a river, following her grief and heartbreak. The Pre-Raphaelite<\/strong> oil painting features a model named Elizabeth Siddal, wearing a fancy dress, lying in a bathtub filled with water (not a far cry from The Life of a Showgirl\u2019s<\/strong> cover shot, hey?).<\/p>\n There are various nods to the painting within Swift\u2019s new music video. However, in Taylor\u2019s version, the narrative is rewritten \u2013 and she is saved from the fate of Ophelia<\/strong>. The very last shot of the video sees Swift submerged in water (just as she is on the album cover), an image that heavily resembles Millais\u2019 painting<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Where can you see the Ophelia painting? <\/p>\n The painting was part of the original Henry Tate Gift<\/strong> (which included 65 paintings and two sculptures), and it went on display at (what is now known as) Tate Britain in 1894. The artwork has been on a few tours in its time, but has been back on permanent display at the Tate since 2013<\/strong>. And Londoners (and beyond) can visit the painting for free<\/a> during the gallery\u2019s opening hours.<\/p>\n So, say you\u2019ll remember me, standing in the Tate Britain<\/strong>, staring at the Ophelia painting, babe.<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/shutterstock_2686039257-min.jpg\")
Credit: akslam, Shutterstock The history of the Ophelia painting <\/p>\n