John William Waterhouse

Summary

John William Waterhouse (1849–1917) was an English painter celebrated for his captivating depictions of women from mythology and literature. Initially working in a classical, Academic style, he later adopted the themes and aesthetics of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, which became the hallmark of his career. Born in Rome to painter parents, Waterhouse moved to London and trained at the Royal Academy of Art. He gained significant recognition for his large-scale canvases inspired by ancient Greek myths and Arthurian legends, with his most famous works including multiple versions of The Lady of Shalott and Ophelia. His paintings are renowned for their romantic and melancholic beauty, often portraying beautiful young women in dramatic historical settings. A full Academician by 1895, Waterhouse’s work remains a prominent example of late 19th-century British art.

Early Life and Training

John William Waterhouse was born in Rome in 1849 to English painters William and Isabella Waterhouse. His birth occurred in the same year that the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was making its mark in London. His early years in Italy profoundly influenced his later art, which frequently referenced Roman mythology and settings. In 1854, his family relocated to London, settling near the Victoria and Albert Museum. Immersed in an artistic environment, the young Waterhouse, known as ‘Nino,’ honed his drawing skills by sketching works in the British Museum and the National Gallery. In 1871, he was accepted into the Royal Academy of Art Schools, where he initially studied sculpture before shifting his focus to painting.

Career and Artistic Style

Waterhouse’s early career was defined by a classical style similar to that of his contemporaries Lawrence Alma-Tadema and Frederic Leighton. His work gained public attention after his painting Sleep and His Half-brother Death was successfully exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1874. This marked the beginning of a long and consistent presence at the annual exhibition, where his paintings grew progressively larger and more ambitious. Over time, his style evolved as he embraced the subject matter and aesthetic of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, focusing on literary and mythological themes drawn from authors like Homer, Ovid, and Shakespeare. In 1883, he married fellow painter Esther Kenworthy.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1895, Waterhouse was elected a full Academician and became an influential teacher at the St. John’s Wood Art School. Throughout his later career, he became preoccupied with certain female figures from literature, most notably The Lady of Shalott, based on a Tennyson poem, which he painted in three different versions between 1888 and 1916. Another recurring subject was Ophelia from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, whom he often depicted in the moments just before her tragic death. These works, portraying beautiful women dying near water, are among his most iconic. His plan to create a final series of Ophelia paintings was cut short by a long battle with cancer. Waterhouse passed away in 1917 and was buried in London. Today, his paintings are housed in major art museums, and his legacy as a master of Victorian-era romanticism endures.