J.W. Waterhouse: The Modern Pre-Raphaelite

by Elizabeth Prettejohn, Peter Trippi, John William Waterhouse (Illustrator)

With his grand scale and richly colored canvases and studies, John William Waterhouse (1849-1917) was one of the most influential painters of the 19th century. In this brilliantly illustrated  survey, edited by a leading Waterhouse scholar, the painter's seductive vision of femininity is captured in sumptuous reproductions and illuminated by an engaging and informative text.


Published to accompany an important exhibition of the artist's work, the book explores Waterhouse's creative responses to such contemporary concerns as medievalism, the classical tradition, and spiritualism. A comprehensive examination of his life and work, including his well-known painting The Lady of Shallott, this volume explores also the artist's connection to the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and his engagement with French art of the period.

Genres: Art, Art History

237 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waterhouse is my favourite artist and this is from the best exhibition I've been to so far, (at the Royal Academy). 5 stars for the artwork alone although, I don't feel I know the artist any better than I did before. Not the authors fault, he seems rather elusive.

[Lazarus P Badpenny Esq]

Whilst a Royal Academy exhibition crammed full of real-live nymphs and naiads is not without its compensations it did make it rather difficult to get up-close-and-personal with the paintings: the catalogue must suffice.