MUNKÁCSY, Mihály
(b. 1844, Munkács, d. 1900, Endenich)

Milton

1877-78
Oil on canvas, 210 x 300 cm
Public Library, New York

Artistically not satisfied with just painting salon pictures and landscape. Munkácsy longed for more profound themes. The painting "Milton" was the result of this search. Munkácsy depicted the blind poet dictating the text of "Paradise Lost" to his daughters Eve, Judith and Rachel. By portraying Milton, Munkácsy chose to talk about the deepness of human suffering, and about the painful and strugglesome life of the creative people. The wonderful colours of this painting evoke the brilliance of his salon pictures.