Desperate Romantics - Episode 3

Tuesday 4th August 2009

John Millais, the youngest and most talented member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, delights in having landed the influential John Ruskin as his new patron. Millais's friends and fellow artists, Hunt and Rossetti, however, watch on with bitter envy as his star begins to rise.

It's not long, though, before Millais realises that Ruskin's patronage comes at a price. Ruskin insists that Millais paint his beautiful young wife, Effie. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Effie reveals to Millais that Ruskin cannot, or will not, consummate their marriage. Horrified, Millais realises what is expected of him – in return for Ruskin's patronage, he is to sleep with Ruskin's wife.

Rossetti immediately seizes the benefits of his friend's predicament. Millais, however, is crestfallen at the idea of sleeping with another man's wife, and the potential scandal that could ensue, and resolves to walk away from Ruskin and sacrifice a career opportunity of a lifetime. This proves harder than Millais imagined when he realises that he is in love with Effie.