John William Waterhouse: A collection of 166 paintings (HD)

John William Waterhouse: A collection of 166 paintings (HD)

Description: "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 among the most popular of all the artists on the ARC web site. It is interesting to note however that little is known about his personal life today, considering he died in 1917, and was an active member of the Roay Academy. What is known indicates he was a retiring, shy man. He left no diaries or journals. His friend, William Logsdail [1859-1944] wrote his memoirs.

Peter Trippi said it best in his book on Waterhouse that "John William Waterhouse is among the most popular Victorian Artists, and many of his paintings have become icons of femininity recognized the world over. With their glowing color, compelling composition and Impressionist-infected technique, these paintings are admired for their beauty, yet at the same time have the power to transport viewers into a romantic world of myth and legend. Waterhouse's art reflects not only his distinctive ideal of female beauty, but also a lifelong fascination with the Romantic and Symbolistic themes of passion, magic and transformation, spiritual, erotic and physical...like other Victorian artists, Waterhouse was neglected through much of the 20th century, but today he is acknowledged as a crucial inheritor of the Pre-Raphaelite legacy."

Waterhouse became ARA in 1885, and a full RA (Royal Academician) in 1895. In 1883 he 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. 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. He was a teacher at the St. John's Wood Art School between 1892 ad 1913. A school which sent more students to the Royal Academy then any other preparatory institution. He was one of the most accomplished British painters of the second half of the 19th century.

Early in his career Waterhouse's work appeared similar to the works of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, but as he continually refined it, and his works became more and more unique and distinctive. Although it was not what he was most known for, he 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.

In 1917 he died of cancer, but he 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."

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