I painted a small master copy that I will share below but I wanted to give some background to my favorite artist first.
I have been in love with Waterhouse's paintings for as long as I can remember. I own two books on his work and am fascinated with the subject matter of his predecessors: the Pre-Raphaelites, notably William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais.
The Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood was a collection of young Victorian men who aspired to create colorful, highly detailed, realistic art; modeled after the artistic spirit of the Middle Ages (coincidentally another subject I was enamored with throughout my youth!)
There are many interpretations, criticisms and praise to be given to the creators of this short lived art movement, but it cannot be denied that their influence has been far-reaching. I would love to talk about the little discussed Sisterhood of the Pre-Raphaelites sometime, as well as Julia Margaret Cameron, an amazing Victorian photographer...I could go on...did I also mention William Morris?
John William Waterhouse was a little late to the Pre-Raphaelite party but he brought with him a colorful earthy palette, and a romantic and impressionistic spin on the style. The artist himself was unremarkable in that he had no scandals or extraordinary lifestyle. He seemed to live a quiet life, surrounded by his work, his wife (who was an artist herself) and other artists in the community.
But the work he created in his life is layered and magical, pulling from the same authors and poets that the Pre-Raphaelites did; Tennyson, Shakespeare and Keats. If you grew up being drawn to the hazy worlds and stories of the fae, you probably eventually found some of Waterhouse's paintings.
It's that indefinable feeling, just out of reach, just beyond our understanding, that I have lost and found and lost and found again throughout my life. You could call it alchemy, and when art makes that for you, you return to it, because it makes you come alive, and experience wonder. We could all use a little more of that in our lives.
I painted this copy on panel that I prepped myself. I've been doing that a lot more lately, buying unfinished wood panel and sealing and priming it. Unfinished board is so much more affordable, generally half the cost of a gessobord.
The painting is not perfectly to scale and it is not an "exact" copy but as always it was fun practice! Making a master copy is a really fantastic learning experience, it teaches you about another artist's technique, as well as your own. It's a great way to focus on color and composition too.
My painting measures at 12"x16" and was done in oil. The original was 72"x50"!
Below is Waterhouse's original. I have a long way to go working on my own process, but that journey is lifelong and never-ending so I better enjoy it as I go.
Thank you so much for reading, til next time!