ohn William Waterhouse is born in Rome in April,
1849 (the 6th possibly), city in which his parents, and painting lovers of English
nationality, are working. During his childhood
he's nicknamed as "Nino".
After learning in the Italian workshop of his father, in
1870 he joins The Royal Academy Schools of London. Only two years later,
in 1872, he exhibits his works at the Society of British Artists and in 1874
at The Royal Academy.
To the age of 28 years, he travels abroad for two years, with special predilection for Italy, because of his first paintings be clearly influenced by the customs and Italian life. In fact, when only he has twenty years, the artist already creates some peculiar pictures with certain reminiscence to the Oriental world. Nevertheless, the majority of the creations of this period are influenced by the ancient history and the classic genre, very similar with also painter Alma Tadema works. (See this example in "Consulting the Oracle ", 1882).
In spite of this similarity, it's necessary to emphasize that John William Waterhouse painted in a scale of variety much more wide than that of Alma Tadema. Waterhouse's painting turns out to be much more brave and bold, the light in his works provokes dazzling shades and the histories reflected in his pictures are much more dramatic.
After a period inspired by the classic subject matter (Greece and Rome were the favorite ones), from 1880, he initiates a creative stage based on purely literary topics. In his last works a clear influence of literature and mythology Greeks is evident.
It's important to emphasize that Waterhouse's pictorial style, distinguished, dreamy and romantic, was kept almost inaltered during all his career. It'is from 1900 when this one appears slightly more relaxed and free and with clearer and brilliant colors (surely because of to the influence of Impresionism and the aesthetic movement of the time).
It's believed moreover, by some experts, that the painter was initiating and finishing his works in the same canvas.
About 1891, Waterhouse knows a beautiful model. In the same year she starts putting for his pictures, works that some years later will be them the most famous of the painter. Never has been known the identity of this woman by certainty, though everything suggest the name of Muriel Foster.
From the year 1880 he exhibits anually at The Royal Academy and at The Academy. In 1885 and 1895 respectively, he's elected an associate and academician of The Royal Academy. For these dates his works are very well received and they are compared with those of Burne-Jones or Leighton, great representatives of the second stage of the Pre-Raphaelite phenomenon.
At the beginning of the S.XX his style start to be considered as expired, though he continues being appreciated by the artistic magazine "The Studio".
After Sir Henry Tate, who has owned the trilogy inspired by Tennyson's poem, Waterhouse is supported by the financier Alexander Henderson, who from 1903 until 1917 buys him several paintings being situated among them "Lamia", of 1905. On February 10, 1917 Waterhouse dies in the city of London.
Many of his works, such as "Hylas and the Nymphs", 1896 and "Ulisses and the sirens", 1891, have been bought by several British provincial museums and public galleries of Australia. What stayed of his workshop after his death was auctioned On July 23, 1926 in Christie's, London.
John William Waterhouse is one of the most popular artists of whom, from 1880, re-lived the literary topics popularized by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Nevertheless, many historians think that he cannot be considered as Pre-Raphelite artist due to his pictorial skill. Though the topics treated in his canvas are similar to those of the Brotherhood painters, Waterhouse is more close to the Victorian Romanticism. Also it's true that, for another experts, the painter is considered as a 'late' Pre-Raphaelite. It is enough to attend to the dedication of the feminine beauty, the idea of "femme fatale" and the realistic character of his works.
There is no doubt that John William Waterhouse has created a distinctive and personal model of feminine beauty. His obituary, appeared in "The Times" On February 12, 1917, has described it as an artist influenced by Burne-Jones but less insistent in the design and more in the atmosphere. One of the works that better exemplify this tendency is "The Lady of Shalott" of 1888, the first one of three paintings based on Alfred Tennyson's poem ("The Lady of Shalott") and of the most popular of the painter.
More information:
Waterhouse: John William Waterhouse by Aubrey Noakes.
