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  • John William Waterhouse

John William Waterhouse

1849–1917

Study for ‘Saint Eulalia’ c.1885
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In Tate Britain

Historic and Modern British Art

In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Rooms

1 artworks by John William Waterhouse
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Biography

John William Waterhouse (6 April 1849 – 10 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 paintings are known for their depictions of women from both ancient Greek mythology and Arthurian legend. A high proportion depict a single young and beautiful woman in a historical costume and setting, though there are some ventures into Orientalist painting and genre painting, still mostly featuring women.

Born in Rome to English parents who were both painters, Waterhouse later moved to London, where he enrolled in the Royal Academy of Art Schools. He soon began exhibiting at their annual summer exhibitions, focusing on the creation of large canvas works depicting scenes from the daily life and mythology of ancient Greece. 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.

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Pre-Raphaelite

Artworks

Left Right
  • John William Waterhouse Consulting the Oracle

    1884
  • John William Waterhouse Saint Eulalia

    exhibited 1885
  • John William Waterhouse The Lady of Shalott

    1888
    On display at Tate Britain part of Historic and Modern British Art
  • John William Waterhouse The Magic Circle

    1886
  • John William Waterhouse Study for ‘Consulting the Oracle’ Verso: Studies of (i) Same Composition (ii) Priestess on a Tripod Throne

    c.1884
    View by appointment
  • John William Waterhouse Study for ‘Saint Eulalia’

    c.1885

Features

  • Tate Etc

    Details, Details: John William Waterhouse’s The Lady of Shalott 1888

    Donna Huddleston

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