painting artist Waterhouse John William old oil paintings

4 Waterhouse John William Miranda The Tempest by oil painting old paintings artists
4  Miss Betty Pollock
4  Miss Margaret Henderson
4 My Sweet Rose CGFA
4  Narcissus JW
4 Waterhouse John William Nymphs finding the head of orpheus study JW by oil painting old
masterpiece reproduction supplies
4  Ophelia2
4  Pandora
4  Portrait of Mrs Charles Schreiber CGFA 
4  Portrait of Phyllis Waterlo
4 Waterhouse John William Psyche Entering Cupids Garden CGFA by oil painting old paintings artists
4  Psyche Opening the Golden Box CGFA
4  Study For Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May
4  Study For The Lady Of Shallot
4 Study For The Lady Of Shallot detail
4 Waterhouse John William Sweet summer CGFA by oil painting old paintings artists
4  The Flower Picker JW
4  The lady clare JW
4  The Lady of Shalott b
4  The lady of shalott study JW
4 Waterhouse John William The Magic Circle by oil painting old paintings artists
4  The Necklace CGFA
4  the remorse of nero after the murdering of his mother JW
4  The Sorceress CGFA
4  Thisbe CGFA
4 Waterhouse John William Two Little Italian Girls by a Village CGFA by oil painting old
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4  Vanity CGFA
4  Windswept
4  Listening to His Sweet Pipings
4  Maidens picking (study)
4 Waterhouse StudyfortheLadyClareSmall by oil painting old paintings artists
5 Dante and Beatrice
5 Echo and Narcissus
5 Fair Rosamund
5  Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May
5 Waterhouse John William A Naiad CGFA by oil painting old paintings artists
5  After the dance JW
5  Apollo and daphne FR
5  At Capri

5  In the Peristyle
5 Waterhouse John William Jason and medea FR by oil painting old paintings artists
5  JohnWaterhouse GatherYeRosebudsWhileYeMay 1909Small
5  Knight
5  La belle dam sans mercie
5  Ophelia
5 Waterhouse John William Saint Cecilia by oil painting old paintings artists
5  Sleep and his half brother death JW

5  The annunciation CGFA
5  The Orange Gatherers CGFA
5  The Siren CGFA
5 Waterhouse John William Women with water jugs by oil painting old paintings artists
5  Tristan and Isolde Sharing the Potion

John William Waterhouse
English Pre-Raphaelite painter & draftsman
born 1849 - died 10 February 1917
Born in: Rome (Lazio, Italy).
Died in: St John's Wood (London, Greater London, England)

Also known as: Nino.

Associate member of: Royal Academy of Art (from 1885).
Full member of: Royal Academy of Art (from 1895)

John William Waterhouse was born in Rome, and was always known by his family, and personal friends as Nino, the diminutive of the Italian Giovanino. Both his parents were artists. Today Waterhouse is possibly the most popular of all the artists on this web site. It is interesting to note, however, that little is known about his personal life today, considering John William Waterhouse died in 1917, and was an active RA. What is known indicates John William Waterhouse was a retiring, shy man, John William Waterhouse left no diaries or journals, and, I suspect, quite deliberately covered his tracks. His friend, William Logsdail [1859-1944] wrote his memoirs, but I have not been able to locate a copy of them. I set out below such information I as I have about Waterhouse.

Waterhouse became ARA in 1885, and a full RA in 1895. In 1883 John William Waterhouse married Esther Kenworthy at the parish church in Ealing in West London. There were no children. The newly married couple lived in a purpose built artistic colony in Primrose Hill, fellow residents, and close friends were Logsdail, and Maurice Greiffenhagen and his wife. The houses had studios. Around 1900 Waterhouse and his wife moved to St John�s Wood, evidence of both increasing prosperity, and the need to be part of the artistic community. John William Waterhouse was I think one of the most accomplished British painters of the second half of the 19th century. John William Waterhouse shared with many of them a fascination with events from antiquity and legend.- painting artist Waterhouse John William old oil paintings - Waterhouse John William artist oil painting old –Waterhouse John William Bio, old oil painting by oil paintings old of old oil paintings John William - oil paintings artist.

Early in his career Waterhouse established his style. It changed little, but John William Waterhouse continually refined it, and his beautiful ladies were recognisable flesh and blood, with superb skin tones. John William Waterhouse also painted a few excellent portraits of women, some of them being of the members of the Henderson family of Lord Faringdon, of Buscot Park fame. A lot of the pictures spent many years on the walls of prosperous Home Counties families, but the problems of Lloyds of London have, in many cases, forced their sale, just as their real value, and the artistic worth of Waterhouse�s achievement has come to be realised. John William Waterhouse continued to do the same thing throughout his career, but John William Waterhouse did it so well, who are we to complain?

In 1917 John William Waterhouse died of cancer, but John William Waterhouse had carried on working virtually to the end of his life, as evidenced by the two very late pictures bought by Lord Leverhume, still on show at the Lady Lever Gallery to this day.

OBITUARY - The Times Monday February 12th 1917.

Mr J. W. Waterhouse RA died at his house in St John�s Wood on Saturday, after a long illness in his 68th year.

The first of his paintings exhibited at the Royal Academy was Sleep and his Half-Brother Death, in 1874, and since then there have been few Academies without one or two of his works. John William Waterhouse was elected an ARA in 1885 the year of one of his best paintings St Eulalia. The Magic Circle, painted in 1886 which was purchased for the Chantry Bequest Collection, and The Lady of Shallot, which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1888 were others of his most popular works. John William Waterhouse became an RA in 1895.

His painting Hylas and the Nymphs, shown at the Royal Academy in 1897 passed into the collection of the Corporation of Manchester, and by them was lent for Exhibition in Glasgow in 1901, and the Franco-British Exhibition 7 years later. At other loan exhibitions in Whitechapel, Manchester, City of London Guildhall, and Earls Court examples of his work have been on view from time to time. His wife several times exhibited paintings of floral subjects at the Royal Academy.- painting artist Waterhouse John William old oil paintings - Waterhouse John William artist oil painting old –Waterhouse John William Bio, old oil painting by oil paintings old of old oil paintings John William - oil paintings artist.

Mr Waterhouse was an eclectic painter. John William Waterhouse painted Pre-Raphaelite pictures in a more modern manner. John William Waterhouse was in fact a kind of academic Burne-Jones [1833-1898], like him in his types and moods, but with less insistence on design and more on atmosphere. His art was always agreeable, for John William Waterhouse had taste and learning as well as considerable accomplishments; John William Waterhouse was one of those painters whose pictures always seem to suggest that John William Waterhouse must have done better in some other work. This means that John William Waterhouse never quite �came off,� that John William Waterhouse raised expectations in his art that it did not completely satisfy; and a reason for this is to be found in his eclecticism. John William Waterhouse never quite found himself or the method which would completely express him. One feels that his figures are there to make a picture rather than they are occupied with any business of their own. They do make it very skilfully, but neither they or the pictures seem quite alive. John William Waterhouse was at his best, perhaps, in the Martyrdom of St Eulalia, now in the Tate Gallery which escapes more than usual from the Burne-Jones lethargy, which though very natural and expressive in Burne-Jones himself, seems to be a mere artistic device in Waterhouse. But John William Waterhouse was at any rate, quite free from that theatricality which is the common vice of academic and subject painters. John William Waterhouse painted always like a scholar and a gentleman, though not like a great artist.


COMMENT

Waterhouse was yet another unhappy artist who had lived into the time of modernism in the early twentieth century, when in the art world the untalented became the fashionable, something, alas, still happening today. Thus newly dead Victorian artists were the subject of further attack in their obituaries. One wonders just what this reviewer would think were John William Waterhouse alive today to see the high prices, critical praise, and popularity of the art of John William Waterhouse. On a more general point I have noticed whilst researching these obituaries, that it was felt to be intrusive to say virtually anything about the character of the deceased artist, surely one of the main purposes of any obituary.

Listening to His Sweet Pipings

1911
Oil on canvas
27 x 43 inches (68.58 x 109.22 cm)
Collection of M.S.Rau Antiques, USA
Signed and dated J.W. Waterhouse 1911
Image courtesy of: M.S. Rau Antiques Fine Art Collection.

A woman lies distraught among nature. A mythical pan piper plays to the girl in a vain attempt to comfort her. This painting is a good example of how Waterhouse can capture a sense of self-reflection in a figure�s countenance and eyes. The viewer can tell that even though our subject is looking out, she is not looking at anything in particular, just deep in thought with a glazed expression on her face. Other great examples of this can be seen in both his works of Ophelia, one painted in 1894 and the other in 1910 and also �I am Half Sick of Shadows� another version John William Waterhouse did of the Lady of Shallot.

Tristan and Isolde with the Potion

Oil on canvas
43 x 32 inches (109.22 x 81.28 cm)
Collection of Fred and Sherry Ross, USA

Isolde, Princess of Ireland, has been entrusted to the care of Tristram, the nephew of the king of Cornwall, to take her safely to Cornwall to marry the king. However, Tristram loves Isolde himself and Isolde loves him in return. Tristram and Isolde decide to die together rather then be separated and choose to drink a poison. However, unbeknownst to them the poison was switched for a love potion. After they both drink it they fall even more madly in love and run off together into the forest. Tristram (Tristan) and Isolde, is a legend depicted in many Victorian paintings.- painting artist Waterhouse John William old oil paintings - Waterhouse John William artist oil painting old –Waterhouse John William Bio, old oil painting by oil paintings old of old oil paintings John William - oil paintings artist.
Waterhouse captures the two lovers together on the boat just before drinking the potion, thinking they are about to die. The desperation in Isolde’s face can be clearly seen as she clutches the goblet with both hands. In Tristram we see a distinct look of resignation as John William Waterhouse accepts it. Waterhouse also points out the separation that has been forced between them. They stand on either side of the painting with the cup and the bottle of potion between them. On Tristram’s side lies his helmet and sword with a rope coiled underneath. In the background the castle can be seen illustrating a tie to his duty in bringing Isolde safely to the king. On Isolde’s side sits a throne like chair symbolizing her duty to marry the king once she gets there. Also, there is a very distinct line representing a plank which runs between them, directly under the goblet, further emphasizing their separation. As Tristram accepts the cup his foot “steps over the line”, foreshadowing that the separation between them is about to end.
Waterhouse painted a second version of this painting entitled Tristram and Isolde, which has the bottle of potion behind Tristram and less of the castle visible. There is also a crown on Isolde’s head and a book which lies open at her feet. The edge of the plank separating the two is even more pronounced with Isolde actually appearing to be slightly elevated.
Ophelia

1910
Oil on canvas
40 1/8 x 24 inches (102 x 61 cm)
Private collection

Ophelia sits by the edge of the river tormented by a deep sadness. She is putting flowers in her hair preparing herself for suicide. The story of Ophelia derives from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. Hamlet, Ophelia’s love and betrothed, rejects Ophelia and orders her to a nunnery because John William Waterhouse is obsessed with revenge against his uncle, who John William Waterhouse knows murdered his own father, and married his mother in order to become king. Hamlet’s bizarre behavior, which she does not understand, drives Ophelia mad, causing her to throw herself into a river, singing as she drowns. This painting portrays Ophelia and her story beautifully. Waterhouse has truly captured the way she might have looked before her suicide, her gazing out at nothing, entranced in thought, mindlessly placing flowers in her hair, driven crazy from grief. Peter Trippi quoted that “the Art Journal noted her ‘wistful-sad look’ and observed that, ‘never can this beautiful creature, troubled with emotion, experience the joys of womanhood’” Hamlet having never actually slept with her. This painting is often compared to John Everett Millais’ Ophelia in which she is floating already dead in the water. Millais’ Ophelia was painted from 1851-1852.
Gather Ye Rosebuds while ye may

1908
Oil on canvas
24 1/4 x 17 7/8 inches (61.6 x 45.7 cm)
Private collection
Image courtesy of: Artmagick.

A young woman stands holding a bowl stretched out to the viewer filled with roses. Her head is elevated slightly and her eyes peer out through a window which can be seen reflected in a mirror behind her. Two purple flowers can also be seen reflected in the mirror, one wilting and one standing tall and strait. This painting acknowledges the passing of time and how quickly life vanishes. The title Gather Ye Rosebuds while Ye May reveals the true meaning in this painting. One must gather rosebuds because they bloom and wilt quickly just as the beauty of the girl will quickly fade to dust and she will no longer be able to pick them. This meaning is even more poignant when one realizes that the painting was painted 95 years ago and both the artist and the girl depicted are dead. Waterhouse painted another painting with the same theme also entitled Gather Ye Rosebuds while Ye May where two women are picking roses out in a garden.- painting artist Waterhouse John William old oil paintings - Waterhouse John William artist oil painting old –Waterhouse John William Bio, old oil painting by oil paintings old of old oil paintings John William - oil paintings artist.
Hylas and the Nymphs

1896
Oil on canvas
38 1/2 x 64 1/8 inches (98 x 163 cm)
Manchester City Art Galleries, Manchester, UK

Hylas and the Nymphs originates from Greek myth. As the legend goes King Hylas was on an expedition when John William Waterhouse decided to go ashore to get some water. When John William Waterhouse reached into a spring to retrieve it John William Waterhouse was carried off by water nymphs, never to be seen again. (encyclopedia.org) Waterhouse portrays King Hylas surrounded by seven nymphs. Enraptured with their beauty John William Waterhouse is unaware of the fate about to befall him. This painting has a similar theme to La Belle Dam Sans Mercie. Both paintings depict the Femme Fatale, a common theme in Victorian literature and paintings, where the beauty of a woman causes a man to be off his guard, leading ultimately to his death. Beauty and the sense of immediate danger in both these pieces have grabbed viewers for the last century. Many of Waterhouse’s most famous images share the same tie of impending doom. Images including The Lady of Shallot, La Belle Dam Sans Mercie, Ophelia, Mariamne Leaving the Judgment Seat of Herod, Saint Cecilia and Hylas and the Nymphs. “Often in Waterhouse we see a bitter-sweet tension between earthly beauty and impending doom.”
Saint Cecilia

The titles of oil painting old master John William Waterhouse