J.W. Waterhouse
The Artist and His Art
By: Miss Mooney
~Content~
John William Waterhouse
His artwork
Trivia
Reference
Index
John William Waterhouse
•John William Water
was born in Rome. He
was birthed into a family
of British artists. Both of
his parents were
accomplished painters.
However much of his
early life is unknown to
us because of lost
documentation. His
exact date of birth is
unknown.
From his father’s careful guidance
Waterhouse started his journey of becoming
a world renowned painter. Having received
his parents talents JW Waterhouse use
influenced by his father’s technique and
subject matter. To develop his art skills
Waterhouse’s parents sent him to study at
the Royal Academy.
JW Waterhouse is known as a Victorian painter
because of his father’s influence over his work and
the period of time he painted. During Waterhouse
had many accomplishments as displayed by his
dozens of recognitions into prestige
establishments. He created beautiful works of art
throughout his life of both fiction figures and
portraits of women from his community. Through
he pasted away in 1917, JW Waterhouse lives on
in his artwork.
His Artwork
Waterhouse was able to create dozens of paints
inspired by the literary creations of William
Shakespeare and Lord Tennyson Alfred. By
reading those authors he was able to use the
words of the pages to create his masterpieces.
Many of his paintings are based
upon the female characters in the
pieces of literature.
JW Waterhouse was able to fuse
French and British painting styles
together to form his own technique.
It is visible by his brushstrokes he
was been influenced by the British.
In Lady of Shallot he
leaves behind the art
studio and adventures
into nature to capture
its essence. By using
quick brushstrokes
it appears as if the
image was captures in
a single instant.
The figures of each painting
is first practiced in pencil,
then color, and finally oil
paints. Each of the
females of JW
Waterhouse’s paints is a
live model who patiently
posed as the he captured
their raw beauty on
canvas. This paid off
because Waterhouse was
able to capture a realistic
rendition of each
individual forming a more
whimsical painting.
Did You Know
Trivia
• When JW Waterhouse was a
child he was called Nino
(Italian for Little John).
• Did you know Waterhouse
painted three different Lady of
Shallot. Each depicting a
different stage in story of Lady
of Shallot.
• Many of his paints have cracks
in the paint because he did not
allow the lower layer of paint
dry enough before painting
over it. As the bottom layer
dried it pulled apart the paint
causing the aged look.
• John William Waterhouse
was not only a painter but
a teacher. From 18921913 he taught at St.
John’s Wood Art School.
• The South Kensington
Museum is one of the
many place Waterhouse
displayed his work. The
fun fact is he had used it
from boyhood into his adult
life.
• Many of the females in
JW Waterhouse are
characters of stories which
end tragically.
Reference
Trippi, Peter. J.W. Waterhouse. New York,
NY:Phaidon Press Inc. 2002
Index
• Content- page 2
• John William Waterhousep.3 through p.5
• His Artwork- p. 6 through
• Did you Know Trivia- p.9
through p.10
• References- p.11