John William Waterhouse (6 April 184910 February 1917) was an English painter known for working first in the Academic style and for then embracing the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's style and subject matter. His artworks were known for their depictions of women from both ancient

Greek mythology A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the lives and activities o ...

and Arthurian legend. Born in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

to English parents who were both painters, Waterhouse later moved to

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

, where he enrolled in the Royal Academy of Art. He soon began exhibiting at their annual summer exhibitions, focusing on the creation of large

canvas Canvas is an extremely durable plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, shelters, as a support for oil painting and for other items for which sturdiness is required, as well as in such fashion objects as handbag ...

works depicting scenes from the daily life and mythology of

ancient Greece Ancient Greece ( el, Ἑλλάς, Hellás) was a northeastern Mediterranean civilization, existing from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th–9th centuries BC to the end of classical antiquity ( AD 600), that comprised a loose collection of cu ...

. Many of his paintings are based on authors such as Homer, Ovid, Shakespeare, Tennyson, or Keats. Waterhouse's work is displayed in many major art museums and galleries, and the Royal Academy of Art organised a major retrospective of his work in 2009.

Biography

Early life

Waterhouse was born in the city of Rome to English painters William and Isabella Waterhouse in 1849, in the same year that the members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti,

John Everett Millais Sir John Everett Millais, 1st Baronet, ( , ; 8 June 1829 – 13 August 1896) was an English painter and illustrator who was one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. He was a child prodigy who, aged eleven, became the youngest ...

and

William Holman Hunt William Holman Hunt (2 April 1827 – 7 September 1910) was an English painter and one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. His paintings were notable for their great attention to detail, vivid colour, and elaborate symbolism ...

, were first causing a stir in the London art scene. The exact date of his birth is unknown, though he was baptised on 6 April, and the later scholar of Waterhouse's work, Peter Trippi, believed that he was born between 1 and 23 January. His early life in Italy has been cited as one of the reasons many of his later paintings were set in

ancient Rome In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman people, Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom ...

or based upon scenes taken from

Roman mythology Roman mythology is the body of myths of ancient Rome as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans. One of a wide variety of genres of Roman folklore, ''Roman mythology'' may also refer to the modern study of these representa ...

. In 1854, the Waterhouses returned to England and moved to a newly built house in

South Kensington South Kensington, nicknamed Little Paris, is a district just west of Central London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Historically it settled on part of the scattered Middlesex village of Brompton. Its name was supplanted with ...

, London, which was near to the newly founded

Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

. Waterhouse, or 'Nino' as he was nicknamed, coming from an artistic family, was encouraged to become involved in drawing, and often sketched artworks that he found in the

British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...

and the

National Gallery The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The current Director ...

. In 1871 he entered the Royal Academy of Art school, initially to study sculpture, before moving on to painting.

Early career

Waterhouse's early works were not Pre-Raphaelite in nature, but were of classical themes in the spirit of Alma-Tadema and

Frederic Leighton Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton, (3 December 1830 – 25 January 1896), known as Sir Frederic Leighton between 1878 and 1896, was a British painter, draughtsman, and sculptor. His works depicted historical, biblical, and classical subjec ...

. These early works were exhibited at the

Dudley Gallery Dudley Museum and Art Gallery was a public museum and art gallery located in the town centre of Dudley in the West Midlands, England. It was opened in 1883, situated within buildings on St James's Road, and remained at that site until its closu ...

, and the Society of British Artists, and in 1874 his painting '' Sleep and his Half-brother Death'' was exhibited at the Royal Academy summer exhibition.Trippi, Peter; Prettejohn, Elizabeth; Upstone, Robert. ''J.M. Waterhouse: The Modern Pre-Raphaelite'' Gallery Guide. The Royal Academy of Art. 2009. The painting was a success and Waterhouse would exhibit at the annual exhibition every year until 1916, with the exception of 1890 and 1915. He then went from strength to strength in the London art scene, his 1876 piece ''After the Dance'' being given the prime position in that year's summer exhibition. Perhaps due to his success, his paintings typically became larger and larger in size.

Later career

In 1883, Waterhouse married Esther Kenworthy, the daughter of an art schoolmaster from

Ealing Ealing () is a district in West London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. Ealing is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Plan. Ealing was his ...

who had exhibited her own flower-paintings at the Royal Academy and elsewhere. In 1895 Waterhouse was elected to the status of full Academician. He taught at the St. John's Wood Art School, joined the St John's Wood Arts Club, and served on the Royal Academy Council. One of Waterhouse's best known subjects is ''

The Lady of Shalott "The Lady of Shalott" is a lyrical ballad by the 19th-century English poet Alfred Tennyson and one of his best-known works. Inspired by the 13th-century Italian short prose text '' Donna di Scalotta'', the poem tells the tragic story of Elain ...

'', a study of Elaine of Astolat as depicted in the 1832 poem by

Alfred, Lord Tennyson Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892) was an English poet. He was the Poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria's reign. In 1829, Tennyson was awarded the Chancellor's Gold Medal at Cambridge for one of his ...

, who dies of a mysterious curse after looking directly at the beautiful

Lancelot Lancelot du Lac (French for Lancelot of the Lake), also written as Launcelot and other variants (such as early German ''Lanzelet'', early French ''Lanselos'', early Welsh ''Lanslod Lak'', Italian ''Lancillotto'', Spanish ''Lanzarote del Lago' ...

. He actually painted three different versions of this character, in 1888, 1894, and 1916. Another of Waterhouse's favorite subjects was Ophelia; the most familiar of his paintings of Ophelia depicts her just before her death, putting flowers in her hair as she sits on a tree branch leaning over a lake. Like ''The Lady of Shalott'' and other Waterhouse paintings, it deals with a woman dying in or near water. He may also have been inspired by paintings of Ophelia by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and

. He submitted his 1888 ''Ophelia'' painting in order to receive his diploma from the Royal Academy. (He had originally wanted to submit a painting titled ''A Mermaid'', but it was not completed in time.) After this, the painting was lost until the 20th century. It is now displayed in the collection of Lord Lloyd-Webber. Waterhouse would paint Ophelia again in 1894 and 1909 or 1910, and he planned another painting in the series, called ''Ophelia in the Churchyard''. Waterhouse could not finish the series of Ophelia paintings because he was gravely ill with

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

by 1915. He died two years later, and his grave can be found at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.''J.W. Waterhouse and the Magic of Color''
/ref>

Gallery

In total, he produced 118 paintings. See List of paintings by John William Waterhouse for an almost complete list.

1870s

File:Ondine (Waterhouse).jpg, '' Undine''
1872 File:Gone But Not Forgotten - John William Waterhouse.jpg, ''Gone, But Not Forgotten''
1873 File:John William Waterhouse- The Unwelcome Companion - a Street Scene in Cairo.JPG, '' The Unwelcome Companion: A Street Scene in Cairo''
1873 File:John William Waterhouse, La Fileuse.jpg, ''La Fileuse''
1874'' File:Peristyle.jpg, ''In the Peristyle''
1874 File:Miranda - John William Waterhouse.jpg, ''Miranda''
1875 File:John William Waterhouse-After the Dance-1876.jpg, ''After the Dance''
1876 File:TempleofAesculapiusWaterhouse.jpg, ''A Sick Child brought into the Temple of Aesculapius''
1877 File:John William Waterhouse, The Remorse of Nero After the Murder of His Mother.jpg, ''The Remorse of the Emperor Nero after the Murder of his Mother 1878''

1880s

Image:John William Waterhouse - Dolce Far Niente (1880).jpg, ''Dolce far Niente''
1880 Image:Waterhouse-Diogenes.jpg, ''

Diogenes Diogenes ( ; grc, Διογένης, Diogénēs ), also known as Diogenes the Cynic (, ) or Diogenes of Sinope, was a Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynicism (philosophy). He was born in Sinope, an Ionian colony on the Black Sea ...

''
1882 Image:John Williams Waterhouse - The Favourites of the Emperor Honorius (1883).jpg, ''

The Favourites of the Emperor Honorius ''The Favourites of the Emperor Honorius'' is a painting by John William Waterhouse completed in 1883. The painting depicts Honorius feeding birds which are on the rug in front of him; the dark colours of the rug and his clothes define a space ...

''
1883 File:John William Waterhouse - Consulting the Oracle - Christie's.jpg, ''

Consulting the Oracle ''Consulting the Oracle'' is an oil on canvas painting by John William Waterhouse. Waterhouse painted it in 1884; according to Anthony Hobson, "''The Illustrated London News ''The Illustrated London News'' appeared first on Saturday 14 May ...

''
1884 Image:John William Waterhouse - Saint Eulalia - 1885.jpg, '' Saint Eulalia''
1885 Image:John William Waterhouse - Magic Circle.JPG, '' The Magic Circle''
1886 Image:John William Waterhouse-Mariamne Leaving the Judgement Seat of Herod-1887.jpg, ''Mariamne Leaving the Judgement Seat of Herod''
1887 Image:John William Waterhouse - The Lady of Shalott - Google Art Project edit.jpg, ''

''
1888 Image:Cleopatra - John William Waterhouse.jpg, ''

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler.She was also a ...

''
1888 Image:JWW Ophelia 1889.jpg, ''Ophelia''
1889

1890s

File:A Roman Offering - JWW.jpg, ''A Roman Offering''
1890 File:Circe Offering the Cup to Odysseus.jpg, '' Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses''
1891 File:WATERHOUSE - Ulises y las Sirenas (National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 1891. Óleo sobre lienzo, 100.6 x 202 cm).jpg, '' Ulysses and the Sirens''
1891 File:JohnWilliamWaterhouse-Danaë(1892).jpg, ''

Danaë In Greek mythology, Danaë (, ; ; , ) was an Argive princess and mother of the hero Perseus by Zeus. She was credited with founding the city of Ardea in Latium during the Bronze Age. Family Danae was the daughter and only child of King Acris ...

''
1892 File:Circe Invidiosa - John William Waterhouse.jpg, ''

Circe Invidiosa ''Circe Invidiosa'' is a painting by John William Waterhouse completed in 1892. It is his second depiction, after ''Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses'' (1891), of the classical mythological character Circe. This particular mythological portrayal ...

''
1892 File:John William Waterhouse-Gathering Summer Flowers in a Devonshire Garden-1893.jpg, ''Gathering Summer Flowers in a Devonshire Garden''
1892-1893 File:A Naiad or Hylas with a Nymph by John William Waterhouse (1893).jpg, ''A

Naiad In Greek mythology, the naiads (; grc-gre, ναϊάδες, naïádes) are a type of female spirit, or nymph, presiding over fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies of fresh water. They are distinct from river gods, who ...

'' or '' Hylas with a Nymph''
1893 File:John William Waterhouse - La Belle Dame sans Merci (1893).jpg, ''La Belle Dame sans Merci''
1893 File:A Female Study - John William Waterhouse.jpg, ''A Female Study''
1894 File:The Lady of Shallot Looking at Lancelot.jpg, ''

The Lady of Shalott Looking at Lancelot ''The Lady of Shalott Looking at Lancelot'' is an oil-on-canvas painting by John William Waterhouse, completed in 1894. It measures . The artist presented it to Leeds Art Gallery in 1895. Description This is the second of three major painti ...

''
1894 File:Ophelia 1894.jpg, '' Ophelia''
1894 File:John William Waterhouse - The Shrine.JPG, ''The Shrine''
1895 File:Waterhouse stcecilia.jpg, '' Saint Cecilia''
1895 File:Waterhouse Hylas and the Nymphs Manchester Art Gallery 1896.15.jpg, ''Hylas and the Nymphs''
1896 File:John William Waterhouse - Pandora, 1896.jpg, ''

Pandora In Greek mythology, Pandora (Greek language, Greek: , derived from , ''pān'', i.e. "all" and , ''dōron'', i.e. "gift", thus "the all-endowed", "all-gifted" or "all-giving") was the first human woman created by Hephaestus on the instructions ...

''
1896 File:John William Waterhouse - Juliet.jpg, ''

Juliet Juliet Capulet () is the female protagonist in William Shakespeare's romantic tragedy ''Romeo and Juliet''. A 13-year-old girl, Juliet is the only daughter of the patriarch of the House of Capulet. She falls in love with the male protagonist ...

''
1898

1900s

File:John William Waterhouse-The Siren-1900.jpg, ''The Siren''
1900 File:John william waterhouse destiny.jpg, ''Destiny''
1900 File:The Lady Clare.jpg, ''The Lady Clare''
1900 File:John William Waterhouse, Study for Nymphs Finding the Head of Orpheus.png, ''Study for Nymphs Finding the Head of Orpheus''
1900 File:Nymphs finding the Head of Orpheus.jpg, ''Nymphs Finding the Head of Orpheus''
1900 File:John William Waterhouse A Mermaid.jpg, ''The Mermaid''
1901 File:John William Waterhouse - The Crystal Ball.JPG, '' The Crystal Ball''
1902 File:John William Waterhouse - The Missal.JPG, ''The Missal''
1902 File:Windswept by John William Waterhouse.jpg, ''Windflowers''
1902 File:Boreas.jpg, '' Boreas''
1903 File:John William Waterhouse - Echo and Narcissus - Google Art Project.jpg, '' Echo and Narcissus''
1903 File:Psyche-Waterhouse.jpg, ''Psyche Opening the Golden Box''
1903 File:Psyche Opening the Door into Cupid's Garden.jpg, ''Psyche Opening the Door into Cupid's Garden''
1904 File:Lamia and the Soldier.jpg, '' Lamia''
(version 1)
1905 File:Jason and Medea - John William Waterhouse.jpg, '' Jason and Medea''
1907 File:John william waterhouse isabella and the pot of basil.jpg, ''Isabella and the pot of basil''
1907 File:The Bouquet (study).jpg, ''The Bouquet''
(a study)
1908 File:Gather Ye Rosebuds - Ophelia.jpg, ''Gather Ye Rosebuds'' or ''Ophelia'' (a study)
File:Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May.jpg, '' Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May…''
1908 File:John William Waterhouse - The Soul of the Rose, aka My Sweet Rose.JPG, ''The Soul of the Rose'' or ''My Sweet Rose''
1908 File:Waterhouse-gather ye rosebuds-1909.jpg, '' Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May''
1909 File:Lamia Waterhouse.jpg, ''Lamia''
(version 2)
1909 File:John William Waterhouse - Thisbe, 1909.jpg, ''Thisbe''
1909

1910s

File:Ophelia 1910.jpg, ''Ophelia''
1910 File:John William Waterhouse - Spring Spreads One Green Lap of Flowers.JPG, ''Spring Spreads One Green Lap of Flowers''
1910 File:Waterhouse - The Charmer.jpg, ''The Charmer''
1911 File:Waterhouse, JW - The Sorceress (1913).jpg, ''The Sorceress''
c. 1911-1915 File:JohnWilliamWaterhouse-PenelopeandtheSuitors(1912).jpg, ''Penelope and the Suitors''
1912 File:John William Waterhouse - The Annunciation.JPG, ''The Annunciation''
1914 File:John William Waterhouse - Dante and Matilda.jpg, ''Dante and Matilda'' (study) (formerly called "''Dante and Beatrice''")
File:John William Waterhouse - Matilda (formerly called "Beatrice").jpg, ''Matilda'' (study) (formerly called "''Beatrice''")
File:John William Waterhouse - I am half-sick of shadows, said the lady of shalott.JPG, ''

I am Half-Sick of Shadows, said the Lady of Shalott ''I Am Half-Sick of Shadows, Said the Lady of Shalott'' is a painting by John William Waterhouse completed in 1915. It is the third painting by Waterhouse that depicts a scene from the Tennyson poem, "The Lady of Shalott". The title of the pai ...

''
1916 File:Waterhouse decameron.jpg, ''A Tale from the Decameron''
1916 File:Miranda - The Tempest JWW.jpg, ''Miranda – The Tempest''
1916 File:John william waterhouse tristan and isolde with the potion.jpg, ''Tristan and Isolde''
1916

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

John William Waterhouse.net

John William Waterhouse (The Art and Life of JW Waterhouse)

John William Waterhouse (Comprehensive Painting Gallery)

John William Waterhouse (1849–1917)

John William Waterhouse Style and Technique

Waterhouse at Tate Britain

''Echo and Narcissus'' (1903)

* * * * * * ttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8041010/john-william-waterhouse Findagrave burial record {{DEFAULTSORT:Waterhouse, John William 1849 births 1917 deaths 19th-century English painters 20th-century English painters Italian emigrants to the United Kingdom Artists' Rifles soldiers Burials at Kensal Green Cemetery English male painters Neo-Pompeian painters Orientalist painters 01 Artists from London People of the Victorian era Pre-Raphaelite painters Royal Academicians Members of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 20th-century English male artists 19th-century English male artists