The theme of the PRERAPHAELITS turned out to be very extensive. One cannot ignore the well-known a English artistJohn William Waterhouse 1849 - 1917 , whose work is attributed to a later stagePre-Raphaelitism.
John Waterhouse developed his own style, which harmoniously combined classicism, romanticism, fantasy and reality. Some works can be attributed to impressionism.
During his life, Waterhouse created more than 200 paintings. His works have been at numerous exhibitions in England and around the world, as part of the symbolist movement and everywhere were a resounding success.
They were admired not only by adherents of symbolism or pre-Raphaelism, but also by ordinary viewers. In these canvases there is something that cannot leave indifferent a person, even for the first time acquainted with the work of the famous English painter. Everyone will find in them something close to his worldview and will read the plot in his own way. Perhaps this is the great power of true art.
A LITTLE ABOUT THE ARTIST.
John William Waterhouse was born in April 1849 in the capital of Italy. His parents were quite famous artists. When the boy grew up a little, the family decided to return to London for permanent residence, after several years in Italy.
The boy received his first lessons in painting, composition, perspective and combination of colors from his father. Art surrounded him all his life and he absorbed the love for it literally with the milk of his artist mother. Relatives and close friends often called him "Nino".
At the age of 21, Waterhouse successfully passed the exams at the prestigious British Royal Academy of Arts, where, later, as in the Grosvenor Gallery, he organized many exhibitions of his work. Before entering this school, the young man helped his father in his studio. This experience was very useful to the young man. Painting and sculpture at the Academic School was taught by the artist Pickersgil.
The early works of the young man in some details of composition and imagery resemble the paintings of the famous painter Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, a British artist of Dutch origin, who was the most famous and highly paid artist of the Victorian era.
Another painter who also had a significant influence on Waterhouse's early work was the English Baron Frederick Leighton, who is a prominent representative of Victorian academicism, the so-called salon art, also somewhat close to the Pre-Raphaelites.
At the age of twenty-five (1874), John Waterhouse presented his first major work, Sleep and his half-brother Death, at the exhibition, met, as many contemporaries noted, with the noisy delight of all spectators. The picture earned excellent reviews from numerous critics, and the artist gained popularity. This canvas, in the future, was part of almost all of his exhibitions.
Let's take a closer look at this picture.
"Sleep and his half-brother Death"
The painting, created based on ancient Greek mythology, depicts two young men who only recently played the pipes, and remained lying in a corner on a small round bedside table. The music apparently had a strong hypnotic effect on them, and they dozed off almost in the same position in which they practiced music.
One of the young people holds in his hands bright red poppies that have not yet had time to wither. Most likely, this young man is the Dream, since even the flowers, as if lulled by the beautiful music of the flute, have just fallen asleep.
The artist gave a strange name to his painting, which became his most famous - “Step Brothers”. Waterhouse searched for a long time for the most appropriate title for his first significant work. As the researchers of his work have established, he tried quite a few options in which the degree of kinship of young men changed.
John William Waterhouse. Esther Kenworthy.
In 1883, the artist Esther Kenworthy became the wife of John Waterhouse, who also gained fame, her paintings were often exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts. The family had two children. Unfortunately, they died at an early age. But the marriage of two creative people, despite this heavy loss, can be called happy. In 1885, John Waterhouse was elected a member of the Royal Academy, and 10 years later he became an academician.
Ophelia 1889
Another favorite heroine of the artist is Ophelia. In 1889, the painter depicts her in a meadow, surrounded by grass and soft wildflowers. Almost the entire space of the picture is occupied by the image of a slender girl. It is evident that the author admires his heroine.
Ophelia 1894
On the canvas of 1894 - Ophelia sits thoughtfully on the shore of the lake.
In 1910, Waterhouse depicts a girl near a small stream. She clings to a tree, and is already psychologically ready to take a fatal step.
At this time, he creates many portraits of famous people.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, Waterhouse has been actively involved in many public organizations of artists in Great Britain.
His portraits of women have gained immense fame in almost all countries of the world and are valued not only as works of art, but also acquired by collectors as a profitable investment of funds.
The painter managed to convey the dramatic nature of the situation with great realism, to demonstrate excellent mastery of compositional techniques and the technique of a great master. But, nevertheless, according to many critics, he gained his popularity thanks to the wondrous charm of his models.
If you look closely at the numerous canvases of the artist, we will notice that the heroines of his work often became not just women from myths and legends, but powerful women with a tragic fate.
Today, John Waterhouse is one of the most expensive artists not only in Britain, but throughout the world. For example, in 2006, Saint Cecilia was sold at Christie's for £6.6 million to the Webber Foundation.
GALLERY OF THE ARTIST'S WORKS.
Saint Cecilia.
John William Waterhouse .Magic circle.
The painting depicts a witch or sorceress outlining a fiery magic circle in order to create space for the implementation of witchcraft.
The power of the witch is emphasized by her determined expression, the exclusion from the circle of crows and frogs - popular symbols of magic at the time - and control over the column of smoke coming out of the cauldron. The pillar, instead of swaying to the sides or swaying under the influence of the wind, remains straight.
The picture was very positively received by critics and the public.
John William Waterhouse. Pluck roses quickly. 1909
The painting depicts beautiful girls picking flowers in a wide meadow. The title is taken from the 17th-century poem "To the Virgins: Hurry to Catch Up" by Robert Herrick. The poet, glorifying the joys of youth and spring, advises to discard modesty and rather put on a wedding dress, because youth is fleeting and “the moment of sunset is closer”.
Pluck the roses quickly
Everything is subject to aging
Flowers, which are now dearest to all,
Tomorrow they will become a shadow.
The first version of the painting "Pick the roses as soon as possible", 1908
Waterhouse, John William . Miranda and the Storm
Miranda is a naive 15-year-old girl, the only daughter of the Duke Prospero . She and her father became hermits on the island through the fault of her uncle Antonio, who wanted to take the throne. Miranda has been living on a desert island since she was 3 years old. One day, due to a storm, their countrymen, the Neapolitans, among whom was the young Prince Ferdinand, were shipwrecked and also ended up on this island.
Duke Prospero, who is a magician, sends Ariel , the spirit that serves him, for Ferdinand and organizes the case so that the prince and Miranda fall in love with each other. The preparations for the wedding were the reason for the Duke and Miranda's return to civilization.
Fate.
"Psyche opens the door to the garden of Eros" 1904
Decameron.
Hylas and nymphs.
Diogenes.
Tristan and Isolde
Circe.
"The Lady of Shallot" by John William Waterhouse.
John William Waterhouse is often referred to as the last Pre-Raphaelite. Beautiful long-haired maidens, mythological and medieval subjects, wild grasses and overgrown ponds make his works related to the paintings of Millet and Rossetti. However, the biography of Waterhouse is very different from the biographies of romantics and brawlers of the 19th century.
"Ariadne".
He was born in the north of Italy in a family of famous artists and spent the first years of his life in this beautiful sunny country. Waterhouse's early works are filled with nostalgia for Italy - markets, ruins, Italian courtyards ...
Subsequently, he often painted his heroines against the background of Italian landscapes, dressed them in thin antique dresses, embodied in his canvases the images of the gentle Psyche and the insidious Circe - the heroines of ancient mythology. In the future, Waterhouse often returned to these places to feed on their life-giving air.
From childhood, John witnessed the creative life of Roman artists and poets who visited his parents, spent long hours in his father's workshop, where he received his first painting lessons. The atmosphere of Rome was conducive to the pursuit of art. Young John grew up among the majestic sculptures and paintings of great artists. It can be said that he had no choice but to follow in the footsteps of his parents and devote his whole life to art.
Despite the charm of Rome, the family decided to return to England. At twenty-one, John entered the Royal Academy of Arts, where he was not seen either in riots or in a special craving for experiments. His training was uneven, but quite successful, and over the years the Academy has repeatedly provided him with the opportunity to exhibit works within its walls.
In those years, the highest paid British artist was Lawrence Alma-Tadema, who depicted the daily life of ancient Rome - mostly beautiful young women in light clothes, indulging in bliss on skins and among scattered rose petals. Some of Alma-Tadema's works are dedicated to the ancient poetess Sappho and are filled with hidden eroticism, but the prim Victorian public accepted each of his paintings with unfailing delight. The first works of Waterhouse are a clear imitation of Alma-Tadema. Another of his "teachers" is the Pre-Raphaelite Frederick Leighton, whose work is connected with chivalry, the cult of the Fair Lady and British history.
However, Waterhouse quickly developed his own style, relying not only on academicism, but also on the creative manner of the Impressionists - he did not strive for ideal smoothness of the image, often using wide, rough strokes to convey movement.
"Lady Shallot" (left), "My sweet rose
One of his most famous paintings was The Lady of Shallot, based on the legend of the Arthurian cycle. A pale red-haired girl floats down an overgrown river in an old boat, her face full of suffering, and the landscape filled with anxiety.
Biographers do not know a single spicy story from the life of Waterhouse, he was not involved in scandals or intrigues.
Unlike most Pre-Raphaelites, he did not get involved in dubious stories with models - he invited several women to pose, and they all noted his politeness and correctness. He never flirted with the women he wrote and treated them with deep respect.
Anyone who has even a cursory acquaintance with Waterhouse's work can notice that he often painted a slender red-haired girl with a thin profile, reminiscent of the Pre-Raphaelite muse Lizzie Siddal. Her name is known - Muriel Foster, but her biography remains a mystery.
Despite the many works and sketches that betray Waterhouse's obvious admiration for the beauty of Miss Foster, this passion was purely artistic, aesthetic. John Waterhouse's heart was owned by another woman.
Woman with roses" (left), sketch for the painting Ophelia (right).
In 1883 he married the successful artist Esther Kenworthy. Their marriage was strong and happy, but was overshadowed by the loss of two children at an early age.
Many researchers are looking for the appearance of Esther in the works of Waterhouse, but opinions differ - someone believes that she is depicted as Lady Shallot, someone claims that Waterhouse never painted his wife in romantic images.
Waterhouse's favorite heroines are Lady Shallot, Ophelia, Circe, Psyche.
He was interested in the fate of strong, powerful, bright women.
In Waterhouse's works, women are not abstract images captured "for beauty", they are not flirtatious, sometimes innocent, and sometimes harsh.
The “beautiful merciless lady” who seduces the knight looks more like an evil sorceress who lured the unfortunate man into her nets.
The combination of cruelty and innocence, strength of personality, fatalism and mystery distinguish the heroines of Waterhouse. There is also the influence of his wife - a bright, extraordinary woman who has achieved significant success in an area that at the turn of the century was still predominantly male.
Waterhouse wrote more than 200 works, evoking the approval of both members of the Academy and the unenlightened public. Critics noted that Waterhouse, of course, owed his success to the beauty of his models.
However, art historians note his ideal composition, fine work with color, and the ability to focus on the inner world of the depicted woman. He never wrote “beautifully”, embellishingly, sincerely admiring and admiring the beauty of nature, wildflowers and reeds. He preferred to paint flowers and landscapes from nature.
In the last years of his life, the artist suffered from a serious oncological disease, from which he died at the age of sixty-seven, without stopping creating as long as it was possible. Esther survived him by twenty-seven years.
Today, Waterhouse's work still delights the audience, and his contribution to the development of art in Great Britain is considered invaluable.
In 1992, his image appeared on a British postage stamp. Collectors are ready to give any money to get one of his works - for example, "Saint Cecilia" was sold for six million pounds to the Webber Foundation. Many young artists and photographers, our contemporaries, are inspired by the paintings of John Waterhouse - and interest in the work of this enigmatic artist is only growing.
Continuing the theme, the story of who they were - the red-haired muses of the Pre-Raphaelite artists
John William Waterhouse - a classic of English painting of the late 19th - early 20th century, one of the most expensive and popular artists in the UK (his painting "Saint Cecilia" at the Christie's auction was sold for 6 million pounds sterling). But, regardless of the price of his works, this is just a very good artist who has not been as famous in Russia for a long time as he deserves. He created an amazing gallery of female images, choosing myths or ancient literary works as the subjects of his paintings.
The Lady of Shallot, 1884 (The Lady of Shallot - Elaine or the Lily Maiden, a character in the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, a girl who died of unrequited love for Lancelot)
Waterhouse has always guarded his private life from prying eyes, so little is known about him, except for the most basic milestones of his biography. And there was nothing left but a few accidentally surviving letters that could clarify the secrets of his life. 
Fate. 1900
Waterhouse was born in 1849 in Rome, in the artist's family, but soon his family returned to England. The future artist took his first painting lessons from his father, and at the age of 21 he entered the Royal Academic School at the Royal Academy of Art. The early works of the master, exhibited at the Royal Academy and famous galleries, aroused great interest in the young artist. 
Shrine. 1895
The artist visited Italy several times, and after marrying the artist Esther Kenworthy in 1883 he settled in England. Interest in his work grew ever higher, paintings were acquired for the best collections, including the royal one. 
Lamia. 1905
The artist's two children died early, however, his marriage was happy - the spouses, having experienced a common grief, rallied and devoted their lives to each other. 
Jason and Medea. 1890
Ophelia. 1889
Waterhouse was considered a symbolist. Some researchers believed that he was a member of the Pre-Raphaelites, but officially the artist did not belong to any artistic groups. 
Rose soul. 1908
In 1885, Waterhouse was elected to the Royal Academy of Art, and 10 years later he became an academician. 
Nereid. 1901
During his life, Waterhouse painted more than 200 paintings on mythological and literary subjects. 
Enchantress. 1911
The last years of the artist were complicated by a serious illness, but he continued to work just as hard. In 1917 he died of cancer. His wife survived him by 27 years. 
Psyche opens the door to the Garden of Eros. 1904
And a few more works of the master: 
Ophelia. 1894
Borei. 1902
Magic ball. 1902
Ariadne. 1898
A story from the Decameron. 1916
Miranda. Storm. 1916
Penelope and the suitors. 1912
Wildflowers. 1902
Beautiful Rosalind. 1917
Waterhouse John William (Waterhouse John William), English artist. John William Waterhouse was born in 1849 in Rome, the son of an artist. In the 1850s the family returned to England. In the early 1870s, before entering the Royal Academic School, Waterhouse helped his father in his studio. Waterhouse studied painting and sculpture under the guidance of the artist Pickersgil. Waterhouse's early work on classical themes in the vein of Sir Laurence Alma-Tadema and Frederick Leighton has been shown at the Royal Academy of Art, the Society of British Artists and the Dudley Painting Gallery.
In the late 1870s and 1880s, Waterhouse made several trips to Italy. After his marriage to Esther Kenworthy in 1883, Waterhouse settled at Primrose Hill Studios. Artists Arthur Rackham and Patrick Caulfield also lived there. In 1884 Waterhouse achieved recognition, his painting The Lady of Shallot (1884, Tate Gallery, London) was purchased by Sir Henry Tate, after an exhibition at the Academy. Paintings from this period show Waterhouse's growing interest in Pre-Raphaelite themes, especially in the creation of images of tragic or powerful femme fatales (Circe Invidiosa, 1892; Cleopatra, 1890; Circe Enticing Odysseus, 1891 and other paintings), as well as plein air painting. In 1885, John William Waterhouse was elected to the Royal Academy, became an academician in 1895. Waterhouse's graduation work was the painting Nereid (finalized by the master, the final version of the painting in 1901).
In the mid-1880s, Waterhouse exhibited extensively at the Grosvenor Gallery, the New Gallery, and at provincial exhibitions in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. Paintings from this period were widely shown in England and abroad as part of the international symbolist movement. In the early 1890s, Waterhouse began to paint portraits. Since the 1900s, he has been actively involved in various public organizations of artists and artists in England. The artist's painting is often attributed to the Pre-Raphaelites, although Waterhouse did not formally belong to this trend.
During his life, Waterhouse painted more than two hundred paintings on mythological, historical and literary subjects. Waterhouse shared the Pre-Raphaelite interest in subjects borrowed from poetry and mythology. He unmistakably conveyed the drama of the moment, demonstrated a brilliant command of composition and painting technique. However, the artist owes his enduring popularity most of all to the charm of his pensive models (it is believed that when writing the painting “The Lady of Shallot”, the artist’s wife was the model).
In 1908-1914, Waterhouse created a number of paintings based on literary and mythological subjects (Miranda, Tristan and Isolde, Psyche, Persephone and others). In these paintings, the artist paints his favorite model, recently identified by Waterhouse scholars Ken and Cathy Baker, as Miss Muriel Foster. Very little is known about Waterhouse's private life - only a few letters have survived to this day and, in fact, for many years the personalities of his models remained a secret. From the memoirs of contemporaries it is also known that Mary Lloyd, the model for Lord Leighton's masterpiece Burning June, also posed for Waterhouse. Despite suffering from the onset of the disease, Waterhouse continued to actively paint during the last ten years of his life until his death from cancer in 1917. The artist's wife, Esther Waterhouse, survived her husband by 27 years, dying in a nursing home in 1944.
Biography of Waterhouse
John William Waterhouse was born in Rome in 1849 into a family of artists. In the 1850s, his family was in England.
Before entering the Royal Academic School, Waterhouse helped his father in his studio. His father taught him painting skills. Then, at the academy, Waterhouse studied painting and sculpture under the guidance of the artist Pickersgil.
The first works of Waterhouse in the classical style, in the spirit of Laurence Alma-Tadema and Frederick Leighton, were shown at the Society of British Artists and the Dudley Gallery. In his paintings, Waterhouse often depicted scenes from Italian life. They show how much he loved his homeland, where he often returned during his life.
A little later, the characters of myths, legends, poetic works and stories from the Bible, traditional for the Pre-Raphaelites, became the main characters of the main plots.
At the age of twenty-five, in 1874, Waterhouse's painting "Sleep and his half-brother Death" appeared at the exhibition, which appealed to critics.
"Hypnosis and his brother Thanatos" 1874
In the 1880s, Waterhouse made several trips to Italy. In 1883, after his marriage to Esther Kenworthy, Waterhouse settled at Primrose Hill Studios.
"Favorites of Emperor Honorius" 1883
Artists Arthur Rackham and Patrick Caulfield also lived with him.
"The Lady of Shallot"
"The Lady of Shallot"
"Study for the painting "Lady of Shallot"
In 1884, John Waterhouse succeeded, his painting "The Lady of Shallot" was acquired by Sir Henry Tate after an exhibition at the Academy. The paintings of this period demonstrate Waterhouse's growing interest in Pre-Raphaelite themes, in particular in creating images of tragic or fatal women: Cleopatra, Circe Invidiosa, Circe Enticing Odysseus. Also, the artist was imbued with plein air painting.
"Diogenes" 1882 
"Appeal to the oracle" 1882 
"Magic circle" 1886 
"Cleopatra" 1888
"Penelope waiting for Odysseus" 1890
"Odysseus and Sirens" 1891
"Circe Offering the Chalice to Ulysses" 1891
"Circe" 1892
He liked to portray Ophelia. In one of his paintings, Ophelia is shown before her death, sitting near the lake.
"Ophelia" 1889
"Ophelia" 1894
"Ophelia" 
"Ophelia" 1910
Other "Ophelias" appeared between 1894 and 1910.
In 1885, John Waterhouse was elected to the Royal Academy, and became an academician only in 1895.
"Echo and Narcissus" 1903
"Saint Cicily"
"Study for gather ye rosebu"
"Miss Margaret Henderson" 1900
"Portrait of mrs Charles Schreiber" 1912
In the 1880s, Waterhouse exhibited his canvases at the New Gallery, as well as at provincial exhibitions in Liverpool and Manchester. Paintings from this period were widely shown in England and abroad as a reflection of the international symbolist movement.
In the 1890s, Waterhouse began to paint portraits.
"Crystal ball" 1902
He takes part in various public organizations of artists and artists.
Despite the suffering from the onset of the disease, Waterhouse continued to actively paint during the last ten years of his life.
"Apollo and Daphne" 1908
Quite often, he is referred to as the Pre-Raphaelites, although he did not formally belong to this trend.
During his life, he painted about 200 paintings on mythological, historical and literary themes.
Waterhouse supported the idea of the Pre-Raphaelites in borrowing stories from poetry and mythology.
He conveyed the drama of the moment with particular accuracy, and also demonstrated a brilliant command of composition and painting technique. The artist owes his popularity to the charm and charm of his thoughtful models (according to some sources, when writing the painting “The Lady of Shallot”, the artist’s wife herself was the model).
Waterhouse's work was praised by critics, his reputation was high, and he was imitated by young artists.
He is one of those few artists who during his lifetime gained fame and could live in abundance thanks to his work.
John William Waterhouse suffered from cancer during the last two years of his life, from which he died in 1917.
He was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.
"The Fisherman and the Siren"
"Nymphs who saw the head of Orpheus" 1900
"Gilas and the Nymphs" 1896
"MIRANDA and the storm" 1916
"Danaids" 1904
"I am half -sick of shadows, said the lady of shalott"
"Pandora"
"Ariadne" 1898
"Jason and Medea" 1890
"Wildflowers" 1902
"Flora" 1890
"At the Shrine"
"Daffodils" 1912
"Study for the painting" Naida "
"Juliet" 1898
"Gift Offering"
"Nereid" 1900
"Psyche opens the golden box"
"Listening to My Sweet Pipings" 1911
"Boreas" Study 1904
"Boreas" (Northern wind) 1903
"Marianna" 1897
"La Belle Dame Sans Merci" 1893
"La Belle Dame Sans Merci" (Study) 1893
"The Beautiful Woman Without Mercy" "To the Beautiful Lady" 1893
"Mariamne leaving the Judgment Seat of Herod" 1887
"Beautiful Rosamund" 1917
"Decameron" 1916
"Dante and Beatrice" 1916
"Death of Adonis"
"In its troubled depths"
"My favorite roses" 1903
"Gathering almond blossoms"
"In the Peristyle" 1874
"Flora" 1891
"Orange pickers" 1890
"My beautiful roses" 1908 "Pick the roses quickly" the first version of the picture
"Pick the Roses Quickly" 1909
"Portrait of a Girl" 1910
"Portrait of a young woman" 1875-1878
"Spring Spreads One Green Lap of Flowers" 1910
"The Charmer" 1911
"The Enchanted Garden" 1916
"The Mystic Wood" 1914-1917
"A Greek Play" 1880
"Esther Kenworthy Waterhouse" 1885
"Female Study" 1894
"St Eulalia" 1885
"Study of a Female Figure with Rosary" 1890
"Portrait of a girl"
"A Song of Springtime" 1913
