Famous mermaid paintings john william waterhouse biography

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Some of his works include famous models of the time, such as Beatrice Flaxman and Jennifer Flora. Most of the photographs come from the John Physick Collection. In the 1890s Waterhouse began to exhibit portraits. In the 1850s the family returned to England. The artist employs the process of weaving as a representation of the women’s stagnant existence, continually waiting and occupying her time with useless pastimes, in his paintings that feature women weaving.

They began to create artworks and sculptures that transported the observer to another universe, far away from the reality of daily life.

A Mermaid (1900) by John William Waterhouse; John William Waterhouse, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 

Early Life

The English painter, John William Waterhouse, was born in Rome in 1849 to English artists Isabella and William Waterhouse, in the same year that the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood – which included John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and William Holman Hunt – was generating a buzz in London’s art community.

He had a passion for natural settings, and was inspired by strong, stunning female figures. Other examples of paintings depicting a femme fatale are Circe Invidiosa, Cleopatra, La Belle Dame Sans Merci and several versions of Lamia. He was obsessed with natural beauty and powerful, attractive feminine bodies.

The colors used in the backdrop are frequently subdued in as not to detract from the primary picture, but they also express the piece’s tone and atmosphere. His paintings reflected the love and tragic stories portrayed by female muses.

Where Did John William Waterhouse Get His Love for Painting?

John William Waterhouse was born to English artists in early 1849.

We will be taking a look at John William Waterhouse’s biography and art style today, and finding out what made him such a renowned figure in the art world.

John William Waterhouse’s Biography

John William Waterhouse emerged in the mid-19th century, during a period when the Industrial Revolution was in full effect and destitution was rampant in England’s poorest regions.

He was referred to as “Nino” throughout his life. During his last few years, his life was overshadowed by a grave illness. Waterhouse’s choice of dress for his women is essentially romantic. Perhaps as a result of his popularity, his paintings grew larger and larger.

Sleep and his Half-brother Death (1874) by John William Waterhouse;John William Waterhouse, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons 

Later Career

Waterhouse wedded Esther Kenworthy in 1883, who had presented her own floral works at the Royal Academy and internationally.

He frequently drew paintings he saw at the National Gallery as well as the British Museum. He used vivid color schemes, natural settings and beautiful light in his paintings. The pictures offered to the War Fund were auctioned at Christie’s. Translucent cloth is utilized to give the women a subtle eroticism without their being entirely naked or overly suggestive.

Waterhouse’s women usually have brilliant porcelain complexions, making them appear pure, angelic, and otherworldly. Most of his early works were inspired by classical themes, and were exhibited at the Dudley Gallery and the Society of British Artists.