Born in Italy to English parents, both of whom were painters, John William Waterhouse (1849-1917) is best known for his classical style of art. His early works predominantly focused on traditional themes in the spirit of Alma-Tadema (a Dutch painter), and Frederic Leighton (an English painter and sculptor). Later works reveal Waterhouse's growing interest in themes associated with the Pre-Raphaelites - a group of English painters, poets, and critics who rejected the classical poses and elegant compositions of Raphael, in particular.
Very little is known about Waterhouse's private life as only few letters have survived. Likewise, not much is known about his models, though the renowned Italian-model, Angelo Colorossi, who sat for a number of famous painters at the time, also sat for Waterhouse. In the last decade of his life, Waterhouse suffered from increasing frailty, yet, despite this, he continued to paint until his death from cancer in 1917. Take a look at some of his detailed work:
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Undine, 1872
Gone, But Not Forgotten, 1873
Miranda, 1875
Dolce far Niente, 1880
The Favorites of the Emperor Honorius, 1883
Magic Circle, 1886
The Lady of Shalott, 1888
Ophelia, 1889
Ulysses and the Sirens, 1891
La Belle Dame sancs Merci, 1893
Hylas and the Nymphs, 1896
The Mermaid, 1901
The Crystal Ball, 1902
Echo and Narcissus, 1903
Lamia, 1905
Jason and Medea, 1907
Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May, 1909
Ophelia, 1910
The Annunciation, 1914
Miranda, The Tempest, 1916
