J.W. Waterhouse
by Peter Trippi
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Book Summary Information
Author: Peter TrippiEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-03-01
ISBN: 0714845183
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Phaidon Press
Book Reviews of J.W. Waterhouse
Book Review: An excellent view of Waterhouse's life and work
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the joys of reading is learning about people, genres, machines, history, music, politics, and so on that one was not previously aware of. This review is focused on one new experience for me--the art and life of J. W. Waterhouse. I am sure that I have seen his works in one museum or another that I have visited. But I really had no background in the specific school of his art, a Victorian, pre-Raphaelite perspective. As such, this book opened a new world for me.
The book is a combination of biography and critical analysis of Waterhouse's art. I am amazed at how many blank spots there are in his biography. He lived from 1840-1917, and the book includes much speculation, for example, as to whether or not he was in Italy at a particular time. One would have thought that someone as well known (as his career developed) would have had few such blanks in his life story. That also, of course, makes this book more intriguing still. The author of this book, Peter Trippi, speculates that Waterhouse's widow, after his death, may have destroyed his records and correspondence, but I'm not sure Trippi has much conviction on that point. And, indeed, if the author is correct, we know very little about Waterhouse's wife, Esther Kenworthy Waterhouse, outside of scraps of information.
I am not an artist nor am I an expert on art, so I cannot speak with great insight about his oeuvre. But I am surely impressed with the growth and development of his art over time. Some of his best work is most affecting to me.
He begins by painting, using classical themes (e.g., "The Death of [Horatius] Cocles"), fairy tales/folklore (e.g., "Undine") , images (so the author suggests), and females (e.g., "The Slave"). As his work evolved, his art became more subtle and telling (e.g., with the classical themes, see the progression from "The Death of Cocles" to "The Remorse of Nero" and "Diogenes" and "The Favourites of the Emperor Honorius").
The next phase of his career was a major step forward in his work. Some of the major works (which I find stunning and powerful, as one juxtaposes the story with his paintings): "The Lady of Shalott," "Saint Eulalia," "Mariamne," and "Ophelia" (different versions are powerful in their own right). This review is already too long. Suffice it to say that his work continued to evolve. Section 3 focuses on "Myth, Poetry, and Nature," and contains some stunning works. And so on.
The point: This volume traces the evolution of his work. The final chapter tries to place Waterhouse in context and make some judgments about his body of work. If, like me, you are not an expert in the work of J. W. Waterhouse, this book is a wonderful resource. Even if you know quite a bit, this would appear also to be most useful, pulling many of his works into one volume while providing a sense of who he was and what his life was like. From my perspective, this is an enchanting volume.
Summary of J.W. Waterhouse
John William Waterhouse is among the most popular Victorian artists, and many of his paintings, such as The Lady of Shalott, Hylas and the Nymphs and Ophelia, have become icons of femininity recognized the world over. With their compelling composition, glowing colour and Impressionist-inflected technique, these paintings are admired for their beauty, yet at the same time they have the power to transport the viewer into a romantic world of myth and legend. Waterhouse's depictions of female beauty reflect his age's complex and ambivalent attitudes towards women, in which Victorian ideals of sentiment and duty commingled with less noble undercurrents of erotic desire and misogyny. In this fresh and innovative study of the artist, Peter Trippi presents a new analysis of Waterhouse's seductresses, martyrs and nymphs, together with a lively discussion of the cultural and historical circumstances in which these images were painted. This authoritative volume utilizes new research to provide an accessible biography of the artist and to assess his place in the late Victorian art world. Themes explored include Waterhouse's passion for Italy, literature and the classical world, his participation in England's Royal Academy, his stylistic influences and studio practices, and the collectors, dealers, critics and curators who helped make him famous in his day. Like other Victorian artists, Waterhouse was neglected through much of the twentieth century, but as critical inhibitions have fallen away the revival of his fortune has been dramatic. Today he is again acknowledged as a master painter. Peter Trippi's monograph provides a timely re-evaluation that combines a close reading of Waterhouse's imagery with a candid appraisal of his unique talent.Artists, A-Z Books
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