Edward V and his younger brother Richard, the Duke of York disappeared from the Tower of London in 1483. The Victorians believed they had been murdered by their uncle, Richard III. Appointed as their guardian after their father’s death, he soon had them declared illegitimate and had himself crowned as King. Millais has painted the princes in the anxious moments before their death; the tension is heightened by the shadow at the top of the stairs, showing the arrival of their assassin.
This picture, and its companion piece Princess Elizabeth in Prison at St James's, are characteristic of Millais’ later works, which often focused on children. The paintings’ popularity reflects society’s increasing emphasis on the need to protect children.
Bought by Thomas Holloway, 1881.
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Rights & Rebellions in Victorian Art