John William Waterhouse was born on April 6, 1849 and died February 10, 1917. He was a famous English Pre-Raphaelite artist best known for his paintings of beautiful female characters from mythology and literature. Waterhouse belonged to the later phase of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. At the begining of in his artistic career he created paintings of Greek and Roman subjects, but in the 1880s he became interested in more literary and mythological themes, which he painted in a identifying, dreamy, romantic style. His art was molded by the Pre-Raphaelites, although his handling of paint is quite dissimilar to the members of the famous Brotherhood. Waterhouse's art is rich and aesthetic, narrating immense, frequently sad tales on an individual canvas. His paintings includes such classical Victorian anthology works as the renowned The Lady of Shalott which is presently placed at the Tate Gallery, London, 1888 and Hylas and the Nymphs, housed in the City Art Gallery, Manchester, 1896.
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John William Waterhouse Biography
artist concerning neoclassic, historical, and literary themes. John William Waterhouse was born in April 1849 from British parents in the city Rome, Italy. He resided there during the beginning six years of his childhood, engrossing himself the heart of Italian culture until his household went back to England. His father worked also as an artist.
Waterhouse, addressed by his family as 'Nino', became an avid student of past history in his early days, and different than the majority of members of the Royal Academy, his solitary lessons in art before enrolling in the school came from his father. Waterhouses' initial introduction of a drawing to the Royal Academy was denied, prompting him to seek entrance as a sculptor. In admitted as a probationer in the Sculpture School in July of 1870 he became luckily sponsored by the painter F.R. Pickersgill. It was Pickersgill who returned adolescent Nino's cares back to the art of painting. In the 1850s the family returned to live in England. Before entering the Royal Academy schools in 1870, Waterhouse assisted his father at his studio. His early paintings Buy John William Waterhouse Posters & Prints
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Comprised of classical subjects in the flavor of current notable artist like as Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema and Lord Frederick Leighton, and these works were displayed at the Royal Academy, the Society of British Artists as well as the Dudley Gallery. His initial showing for the Royal academy was the tender "Sleep and his Half-Brother Death", which was a outcome of the recent deaths of his two younger brothers. The brothers had been affected with tuberculosis. This is a unique painting for this time period, lying in a more melancholy fashion than many of Waterhouses' subjects for this era of his art works. In the later 1870s as well as the 1880s, Waterhouse made multiple travels to Italy, where he created genre scenes.
later on afterwards his marriage in 1883 to Esther Kenworthy, Waterhouse began living at the Primrose Hill Studios. Future occupants to reside in the same Primrose Hill studios would be the painters Arthur Rackham as well as Patrick Caulfield. Although Waterhouse was an artist who worked primarily in oils, nonetheless he was appointed to the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour in 1883, discontinuing his membership in 1889. In 1884, his Royal Academy entry Consulting the Oracle brought upon him favorable reviews; it was purchased by Sir Henry Tate, who in addition to bought famed The Lady of Shalott instantly from the 1888 Academy display. The last named painting exhibits Waterhouse's evolving interest in subjects associated with the Pre-Raphaelites, particularly tragic or persuasive femmes fatals of strenght, in addition to plein-air style painting. Other illustrations of paintings depicting beautiful, unforgettable femme fatale are Circe Invidiosa, Cleopatra, La Belle Dame Sans Merci and various versions of Lamia. In 1885 Waterhouse was elected a fellow of the Royal Academy and later as a complete member in 1895. His RA diploma piece was A Mermaid. All the same, since this work was not completed until 1900, Waterhouse drew out his Ophelia of 1888 for his temporary submission. An interesting observation, this work was 'missing' during most of the twentieth century, all the same it is currently in the collection of Lord Lloyd Webber.
during the mid-1880s Waterhouse began exhibiting with the Grosvenor Gallery as well as its successor, the New Gallery, along with smaller shows in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. Artwork during this period, like as Mariamne, were exhibited across England as well as abroad for section of the world symbolist movement. During the 1890s Waterhouse started to display portraits. From 1900 he was the principal instigator of the Artists' War Fund, producing Destiny, and contributing to a theatrical performance. The pictures furnished to the War Fund were auctioned off at Christie's. In 1901 he moved to St John's Wood and accepted a membership with the St John's Wood Arts Club, a social art guild which included Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema and George Clausen. He likewise served on the consultative council of the St. John's Wood Art School that young and upcoming fresh generation of modern Pre-Raphaelite artists like as John Byam Shaw listed among his pupils.
despite tolerating increasing frailty for the final decade of his lifetime, Waterhouse continued painting up to his passing away from cancer in 1917. From 1908-1914 he painted a series of paintings based on the Persephone myth. These were went with by paintings founded upon literary topics and mythological themes in 1916 like as Miranda and also Tristram and Isolde. Among his last paintings was The Enchanted Garden, left unfinished on his easel at his death, which currently rests with the collection of the Lady Lever Art Gallery of Liverpool.
Little is known of Waterhouse's personal life history - merely a few letters have survived and consequently, for numerous years, the identity of his models gives birth been a mystery. A single letter which had survived indicates that Mary Lloyd, the model for Lord Frederick Leighton's magnificent masterpiece Flaming June, sat for Waterhouse. The familiar Italian male model, Angelo Colorossi, who modeled for additional famous artists of the time including Lord Frederick Leighton, pre-Raphaelite John Millais, John Singer Sargent, symbolist George Watts, Edward Burne-Jones and several additional Victorian artists, likewise modeled for Waterhouse.
Waterhouse and his wife Esther did not deliver any children. Esther Waterhouse lived on past her husband for twenty-seven years, passing away in 1944 at a rest home. Now, she is buried beside her husband at Kensal Green Cemetery which is located in north London.
later on afterwards his marriage in 1883 to Esther Kenworthy, Waterhouse began living at the Primrose Hill Studios. Future occupants to reside in the same Primrose Hill studios would be the painters Arthur Rackham as well as Patrick Caulfield. Although Waterhouse was an artist who worked primarily in oils, nonetheless he was appointed to the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour in 1883, discontinuing his membership in 1889. In 1884, his Royal Academy entry Consulting the Oracle brought upon him favorable reviews; it was purchased by Sir Henry Tate, who in addition to bought famed The Lady of Shalott instantly from the 1888 Academy display. The last named painting exhibits Waterhouse's evolving interest in subjects associated with the Pre-Raphaelites, particularly tragic or persuasive femmes fatals of strenght, in addition to plein-air style painting. Other illustrations of paintings depicting beautiful, unforgettable femme fatale are Circe Invidiosa, Cleopatra, La Belle Dame Sans Merci and various versions of Lamia. In 1885 Waterhouse was elected a fellow of the Royal Academy and later as a complete member in 1895. His RA diploma piece was A Mermaid. All the same, since this work was not completed until 1900, Waterhouse drew out his Ophelia of 1888 for his temporary submission. An interesting observation, this work was 'missing' during most of the twentieth century, all the same it is currently in the collection of Lord Lloyd Webber. during the mid-1880s Waterhouse began exhibiting with the Grosvenor Gallery as well as its successor, the New Gallery, along with smaller shows in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. Artwork during this period, like as Mariamne, were exhibited across England as well as abroad for section of the world symbolist movement. During the 1890s Waterhouse started to display portraits. From 1900 he was the principal instigator of the Artists' War Fund, producing Destiny, and contributing to a theatrical performance. The pictures furnished to the War Fund were auctioned off at Christie's. In 1901 he moved to St John's Wood and accepted a membership with the St John's Wood Arts Club, a social art guild which included Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema and George Clausen. He likewise served on the consultative council of the St. John's Wood Art School that young and upcoming fresh generation of modern Pre-Raphaelite artists like as John Byam Shaw listed among his pupils. despite tolerating increasing frailty for the final decade of his lifetime, Waterhouse continued painting up to his passing away from cancer in 1917. From 1908-1914 he painted a series of paintings based on the Persephone myth. These were went with by paintings founded upon literary topics and mythological themes in 1916 like as Miranda and also Tristram and Isolde. Among his last paintings was The Enchanted Garden, left unfinished on his easel at his death, which currently rests with the collection of the Lady Lever Art Gallery of Liverpool.Little is known of Waterhouse's personal life history - merely a few letters have survived and consequently, for numerous years, the identity of his models gives birth been a mystery. A single letter which had survived indicates that Mary Lloyd, the model for Lord Frederick Leighton's magnificent masterpiece Flaming June, sat for Waterhouse. The familiar Italian male model, Angelo Colorossi, who modeled for additional famous artists of the time including Lord Frederick Leighton, pre-Raphaelite John Millais, John Singer Sargent, symbolist George Watts, Edward Burne-Jones and several additional Victorian artists, likewise modeled for Waterhouse.
Waterhouse and his wife Esther did not deliver any children. Esther Waterhouse lived on past her husband for twenty-seven years, passing away in 1944 at a rest home. Now, she is buried beside her husband at Kensal Green Cemetery which is located in north London.
John William Waterhouse Selected Works
A Byway: Ancient Rome 1884
A Flower Market, Old Rome 1886
A Flower Stall 1880
A Greek Play 1880
A Hamadryad 1893
A Mermaid 1900
A Naiad 1893
A Naiad Study circa 1893
A Pompeian Shop 1880
A Roman Offering circa 1890
A Scottish Baronial House 1907
A Sick Child brought into the Temple of Aesculapius 1877
A Song of Springtime circa 1913
A Tale from the Decameron 1916
A Tale from the Decameron Study circa 1916
After the Dance 1876
An Eastern Reminiscence Sketch 1874
Apollo and Daphne 1908
Ariadne 1898
Arranging Flowers circa 1890
At Capri 1890
Beatrice Study circa 1915
Boreas 1903
Boreas Study circa 1904
Camellias circa 1910
Circe circa 1911
Circe The Sorceress 1911
Circe Invidiosa 1892
Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses 1891
Cleopatra 1888
Consulting the Oracle 1884
Danaë 1892
Dante and Beatrice circa 1915
Destiny 1900
Diogenes 1882
Dolce Far Niente 1879
Dolce Far Niente 1880
Echo and Narcissus 1903
Esther Kenworthy Waterhouse circa 1885
Fair Rosamund 1917
Female Study 1894
Field Flowers 1894
Fishing 1883
Flora 1891
Flora circa 1890
Flora and the Zephyrs 1898
Gather Ye Rosebuds Study circa 1908
Gather Ye Rosebuds while ye may 1908
Gather ye Rosebuds while ye may 1909
Gathering Almond Blossoms circa 1916
Gathering Summer Flowers in a Devonshire Garden circa 1893-1910
Gone, But Not Forgotten 1873
Good Neighbours 1885
Head of a Girl
Head of a Girl circa 1896
Hylas and the Nymphs 1896
'I am Half-Sick of Shadows,' said the Lady of Shalott 1916
In the Peristyle 1874
Isabella and the Pot of Basil 1907
Jason and Medea 1907
Jason and Medea Study circa 1907
Juliet 1898
La Belle Dame Sans Merci 1893
La Belle Dame Sans Merci Study circa 1893
La Fileuse 1874
Lamia 1905
Lamia 1909
Listening to My Sweet Pipings 1911
Maidens picking Flowers by a Stream circa 1911
Mariamne leaving the Judgement Seat of Herod 1887
Mariana in the South circa 1897
Mariana in the South Study circa 1897
Miranda 1875
Miranda 1916
Miranda - The Tempest 1916
Miss Betty Pollock 1911
Miss Margaret Henderson 1900
Mrs A. P. Henderson 1909
Mrs Charles Schreiber 1912
Mrs. Charles Newton-Robinson 1894
Narcissus 1912
Narcissus Study circa 1912
Nymphs finding the Head of Orpheus 1900
Nymphs finding the Head of Orpheus Study circa 1900
Offerings 1879
Ophelia 1889
Ophelia 1894
Ophelia 1910
Ophelia Study circa 1910
Pandora 1896
Penelope and the Suitors 1912
Phyllis
Phyllis Study circa 1907
Phyllis and Demophoön 1907
Phyllis, younger daughter of E A Waterlow, Esq 1895
Picking Flowers Study circa 1900
Portrait of a Girl
Portrait of a Girl circa 1910
Portrait of a Young Girl
Portrait of a Young Woman circa 1875-78
Portrait of Claire Kenworthy
Psyche Opening the Door into Cupid's Garden 1904
Psyche Opening the Golden Box 1903
Resting circa 1885
Roma Catriona Macfarlane 1914
Scene at Pompeii circa 1877
Sketch for Medea 1906-07
Sleep and his Half-brother Death 1874
Spring circa 1900
Spring The Flower Picker circa 1900
Spring Spreads One Green Lap of Flowers 1910
St Cecilia 1895
St Eulalia 1885
Study for the Head of Echo circa 1903
Study for the Head of Venus
Study of a Female Figure with Rosary 1890
Study of a Girl circa 1908
Study of a Girl circa 1908
Study of a Head
Study of Lilies, Poppies and Carnations circa 1916
Study of the Head of a Corsican Boy
Summer circa 1882
Sweet Summer 1912
The Annunciation 1914
The Awakening of Adonis circa 1900
The Awakening of Adonis Study circa 1900
The Bouquet circa 1908
The Bouquet Study circa 1908
The Charmer 1911
The Crystal Ball 1902
The Danaïdes 1904
The Danaïdes 1906
The Easy Chair
The Enchanted Garden 1916
The Favourites of the Emperor Honorius 1883
The Favourites of the Emperor Honorius Study circa 1883
The Favourites of the Emperor Honorius Study circa 1883
The Flower Picker 1900
The Flower Picker Study 1900
The Household Gods circa 1880
The Lady Clare 1900
The Lady Clare Study circa 1900
The Lady Clare Study circa 1900
The Lady of Shalott 1888
The Lady of Shalott 1894
The Lady of Shalott Study 1894
The Lady of Shalott Study 1894
The Loggia
The Love Philtre 1914
The Love Philtre Study circa 1914
The Magic Circle 1886
The Magic Circle Study circa 1886
The Mermaid Study 1892
The Mermaid Study circa 1892
The Merman circa 1892
The Missal 1902
The Mystic Marriage of St Catherine
The Mystic Wood circa 1914-17
The Necklace circa 1909
The Orange Gatherers circa 1890
The Remorse of the Emperor Nero after the Murder of his Mother 1878
The Rose Bower circa 1910
The Shrine 1895
The Siren circa 1900
The Slave 1872
The Sorceress Study 1911
The Soul of the Rose 1908
The Soul of the Rose Study circa 1908
The Unwelcome Companion: A Street Scene in Cairo 1873
Thisbe 1909
Tristan and Isolde with the Potion circa 1916
Tristram and Isolde 1916
Two Little Italian Girls by a Village circa 1875
Two Nymphs - study for Hylas and the Nymphs circa 1896
Ulysses and the Sirens 1891
Undine 1872
Vanity circa 1910
Vanity circa 1910
Veronica 1909
Whispered Words 1875
Windflowers 1903
Woman Picking Flowers circa 1909-14
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