John William Waterhouse Paintings – 50 Most Famous Waterhouse Paintings

Throughout his career, John William Waterhouse created numerous paintings that are held in important museums throughout the world. His work is currently on display at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. The paintings by John William Waterhouse are truly amazing. In fact, many of the paintings in the museum are from Waterhouse’s lifetime.

The subjects of Waterhouse’s paintings vary. He often turned to classical subjects after 1890. His work has been compared to that of the great Renaissance painters such as Vermeer. The painters of this era had studied in various parts of Europe. Their work fuses Classical and Renaissance styles. Many critics have described their works as academic and frigid. They are certainly stunning, but there are certain aspects of his style that makes them worth looking at.

Though Waterhouse painted classical subjects, he often drew inspiration from classical literature. Many of his paintings feature strong female figures and scenes from the Arthurian cycle. For example, his 1888 painting The Lady of Shalott was based on the poem by Alfred Tennyson, about Elaine of Astolat. Waterhouse also depicted women in Renaissance style with hairstyles that are reminiscent of the works of Michelangelo.

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