Early Life and Influences

John William Waterhouse, a prominent English painter, was born in Rome to English parents in 1849. His early life in Italy significantly influenced his later work, which often depicted scenes from ancient Rome or Roman mythology. In 1854, the Waterhouses returned to England and settled in South Kensington, London, near the newly founded Victoria and Albert Museum.

Rise to Prominence

Waterhouse's artistic journey began with classical themes, reminiscent of Alma-Tadema and Frederic Leighton. His early works were exhibited at the Dudley Gallery and the Society of British Artists, with his 1874 painting Sleep and his Half-brother Death being showcased at the Royal Academy's summer exhibition. This marked the beginning of his successful career, with his paintings frequently featured in the annual exhibitions until 1916.

Pre-Raphaelite Revival and Notable Works

Waterhouse's later work was characterized by his embracing of the Pre-Raphaelite style, as seen in his depictions of women from ancient Greek mythology and Arthurian legend. Some of his most notable works include:

• The Lady of Shalott, a study of Elaine of Astolat, which he painted in three different versions (1888, 1894, and 1916).
• Ophelia, with the most familiar version depicting her just before her death, placing flowers in her hair as she sits on a tree branch leaning over a lake.
• After the Dance (1876), which was given the prime position in that year's summer exhibition.

Legacy and Later Life

Waterhouse married Esther Kenworthy, an art schoolmaster's daughter, in 1883. He was elected a full Academician in 1895 and taught at the St. John's Wood Art School. Waterhouse passed away on February 10, 1917. View more of John William Waterhouse's works on WahooArt: [https://WahooArt.com/@/John William Waterhouse](https://WahooArt.com/@/john-william-waterhouse) | [https://WahooArt.com/Art.nsf/O/A@D3C5ZP](https://WahooArt.com/art.nsf/o/a@d3c5zp) (Top 5 Famous Pop Art Paintings of All Time) [https://WahooArt.com/@@/9GEQYS-John-William-Waterhouse-thisbe](https://WahooArt.com/@@/9geqys-john-william-waterhouse-thisbe) (Painting by John William Waterhouse: thisbe) Explore more on Wikipedia: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_William_Waterhouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/john_william_waterhouse) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_the_United_Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/art_of_the_united_kingdom) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_painting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/victorian_painting)