John William Waterhouse of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Part 4: Greek I
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John William Waterhouse of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Part 4: Greek
This is the Last post on John William Waterhouse. This one will focus on Greek myths and women. Its a real bummer that a Romanticism artist made lots of Greek artworks. This subject is common for the enemies of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Still, Waterhouse took this classical subject matter with a Romanticism twist. You know, most of Waterhouse subject matter is depiction of women. Unlike his contemporaries, he is not judgmental about women. He shows different faces of them without succumbing to petty moralism.Now that this lil analysis is over, lets just get the show on the road.
The first mythical Greek maiden is Circe (1911). Lets see, her cute name is Greek for falcon. From what I know, falcons are good hunting birds. It makes sense considering what she does to all men who land on her island. In the Odysseus, she is described as the loveliest of all immortals. There are different account to her lineage. However, it is my belief that she is the daughter of Hecate. Hecate is a tri-form goddess of witchcraft and magic. Considering all of Circe's knowledge of spells and potions it makes sense that she is Hecate's lil girl. Well, basically Circe transforms into animals all who offend her or try to hurt her. She does this via potions. In other accounts, Circe's potions have the power to bring people back to from the dead (and they even carry the power of immortality). One time her son (from Odysseus) accidentally killed his father. Circe brought Odysseus back to life with her magic. Frankly, there is not much genuine intel on Circe. She was not that popular of an immortal. Most depictions focused on Odysseus. She was just there as an enemy to be defeated.
Well, as for Waterhouse, he always felt attracted to strong women. Most of the women he paints (although sometimes in a bind) bear it with fortitude. Here we see Circe meditating on her potions. On top of the table, we see a papyrus scroll with some formulas. The chair has the shape of a falcon (like the true meaning of her name). There is a glass container with a red potion. She is clustered inside her environment. The red dress is for voluptuousness (you do remember her description in Odysseus story). IF you ask me, that shade of red goes well with the blue curtain and the red potion. I think that is everything there is to be said about this painting. Waterhouse deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting is called "The Charmer". Basically, a Greek maiden is charming fishes using Apollo's lire. There is nothing else to this painting. Still, it is pretty interesting the shades of blue in the water complementing the girl's dress. Its kinda weird... In any case, this odd Greek theme deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting is called Miranda. She is the Greek Goddess whose symbol is the feminine sign. Here this golden haired goddess is looking at the tempest by the sea. She looks very pretty with the rising wind. I think that she is also from the windy series of Waterhouse. You can see her lil lace fluttering about. Bad weather was a common theme in Romanticism. Here we have a Romanticim environment with a classical goddess. For such a lovely combination, Waterhouse deserves 5 star rating.
The next lovely Greek painting comes from the Odysseus. Its called "Penelope and her Suitors" . Here the noteworthy wife ,Penelope, is working on her sewing. She is doing this to keep her suitors at bay. This story shows what happens to wealthy widows after their husbands die (or in her case disappear). Its a real bummer... In those days, there was a lot of pressure on widows to remarry as soon as their husband showed signs of being dead. Without a husband, they where left helpless (after all, the public life was deemed a man's world in Greece). It would have been extremely hard for a women to get by in an ancient Greek society without her husband.
Ok, here Penelope is in the midst of cutting a string. She is using her mouth to sever the thread. In front of her, there are two servants helping her out with the loom. By the window, there are four men. The first is simply staring. The one next to him is offering Penelope fancy Jewelery. Another is handing her a cute bouquets of Red and Pink roses. The last one is a bard singing a Serenade to Penelope's beauty. These are the classical gifts that men offered to women (even in this day and age). The lil scenery outside the window shows the walls of Odysseus's palace. Its a pretty big place. I think the dress colors are just for decoration. The pinks, the purples and the blue and red goes well with the red wall mosaics. These mosaics inside the room show epic scenes.
The next one is called "Sweet Summer" . Here a young Greek maiden is enjoying the summer in her Garden. She has a lil pink flower in her hand. Based on her open shirt, she must be taking in the warm rays of the sun. Her pose is quite naturalistic. Near her, there is a lovely black panther fountain. You can see the Doric columns in the background. Its a pretty nice rendering of a Greek garden. In any case, this sweet summer painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting is called "The Siren". As you all know, a siren is a mythological monster that lures sailors to her rocks using her voice. In such a terrible terrain, the sailor's ship is broken and most drown. In this one, a sailor actually made it to the sitting post of one of the sirens. The young sailor is still under the charm of the Siren. The Siren looks down, disdainfully, upon him. Waterhouse's siren looks like a regular women except for her fish legs. She is complimenting her beautiful voice with a harp (she probably got it from one of the sunken ships). I don't know why I get the feeling that she is going to devour the boy. You know, this Siren and a Mermaid painting are the only two female nudes of Waterhouse. Its a real bummer... It has nothing to do with moralism or a new Popist doctrine (or a modern decree). Waterhouse decided this on his own. I guess, like Vermeer, Waterhouse respected women. He did not felt like portraying them in the nude, needlessly. In any case, this redheaded siren deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting is called "Circe Invidiosa" (1892) or Envious Circe. This scene is taken from Ovid's Methamorphosis. Basically, Glaucus had asked Scylla to marry him. Scylla rejected him, thus he went to Circe for help. Circe instead of helping Glaucus went to curse Scylla. Circe had fallen in love with Glaucus, thus she went to destroy her rival. In this scene, Circe is poisoning the waters that Scylla used to bath in. Beneath the water, you can see Scylla starting to turn into a monster. Its very neat how Circe is walking on top of the water (Jesus style). The green liquid is permeating into the water. The way her head is turned (and that glare) is very scary. She was really jealous...In any case, Circe of Waterhouse deserves 5 star rating.
The above painting shows Circe offering a cup to Odysseus. She is also holding up her magic wand. Behind her, there is a mirror showing the reflection of Odysseus. She looks quite epic in her so triumphant , so arrogant. Her lion throne is very interesting. There is a wild boar resting next to her. All over the floor, there are dead flowers. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next one is another depiction of "Gather Yeh Rosebuds while ye may". This one is being perpetrated by Greek maidens by a meadow. Gathering flowers was a typical pastoral scene in Greek plays. If I remember correctly, Orpheus girl was smitten by a snake while gathering flowers. In any case, this one deserves 5 star rating.
This one shows the Danaides (1904). This painting is quite bizarre. The king of Argus ordered his 50 daughters to slay their husbands on their wedding night in obedience to a prophecy. All did it, except one. Now she was punished by pouring water into a basin with a hole endlessly, until it was full. Its a real bummer these things of prophecy and fighting against fate. In another version, the king did not want to go to war with his brother. However, he still wanted to get rid of him for good. Thus, he had arranged that his 50 daughters marry his 50 sons.
On the wedding night, he gave each of his daughters a dagger to slay their husbands. All went through with the murder, except for one that was punished as above. Before she was taken in, Aphrodite intervened on her behalf. She saved the girl and her husband slew her father. The daughters that had slain their husbands became the Danaides. Here the murderesses keep pouring endlessly water into the basin. This scene takes place in Tartarus. The place that the Danaides where taken by the furies for the murder of their husbands.
In Waterhouse's painting we see the Danaides all weary pouring water into the basin. That Basin has a lot of holes. Its pretty interesting the scary face on the basin. Its a real bummer that story. After all, in the ancient Greek times it was bad for maidens to disobey their father. However, it was even worse to slay their husband. Through marriage, the Danaides had cease to belong to their parent's family. Thus, it was wicked their obedience to their father. In any case, this one deserves 5 star rating.
This painting is called "Diogenes". He was a Greek Philosopher. He believed in teaching by example and despised the debauchery of Athens. He lived like a beggar and slept in a Tub. Here Diogenes is resting inside his "home". Meanwhile, three Greek maidens are looking at him. The blonde one is just curious. However, the one in blue is laughing at Diogenes. That philosopher looks so stoic and serious. Its interesting the contrast between the rich sunny lifestyle and the humble life of the sage. All the sage has is a scroll and a lil idol.In any case, this lovely painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting is called "Echo and Narcissus". Originally, Echo loved Narcissus. When he rejected the nymph she became an Echo (literary) to escape from her pain. In her new form, she asked Aphrodite to curse Narcissus. Aphrodite asked Cupid to make Narcissus fall in love with something that could not love him back. Thus, Cupid had Narcissus fall in love with his own reflection. In this painting, we see both ill fated lovers. Echo is still echoing Narcissus's name. Narcissus is focused on his own reflection. Near Narcissus there are Narcissus flowers. Echo has a gently pink dress. Narcissus is red with passion. He is wearing a laurel reef of victory. In any case, this painting of Waterhouse deserves 5 star rating.
This is another Circe painting. Again, she is around her formulas and ingredients. She is gazing upon a lil tiger. You know, this kinda looks like a study for the first painting of this post. The pose and the surroundings is very similar. In this one, we see more basins and a forest background. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
The above painting is called " The Awakening of Adonis" (1900). Adonis was a real hot stud that was beloved by both Aphrodite and Persephone. Half the year he spends it dead with Persephone, the other alive with Aphrodite. Here Adonis is just coming back to life. Aphrodite is looming over him while her son and his pals play sweet music. They are inside a pretty garden. Lil doves are passing by... Dove is the bird symbol of Aphrodite. The entire scene is sweet and youthful, like spring. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
This painting is called "Destiny" . Its interesting the mirror in the painting. In the real world, Destiny is about to drink the veil. In the mirror, she has already drank. The reflection is quite interesting. We see the before and after. Well, this painting could be medieval... Still destiny is a Greek thing. Eh, 5 stars. lets hurry this up!!
This pretty painting is called " Flora". Basically, a Greek maiden is resting near a shrine adorned with flowers. Its a real bummer the simplicity of this painting...Its almost like a historical genre scene. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting is called " Jason and Medea". Medea gave Jason an ointment to help him recover the Golden Fleece from the fire breathing bull. In this scene, Medea is mixing the potion for Jason. Both are hiding in a forest. Jason here looks interesting with his armor and spear. Near Medea we see a boiling platter. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting is called " A Greek Play". Its not a Greek play per say. Rather a maiden is looking at a Greek play. She looks cute with her fan. Around her, the audience is commenting on the scene before them. Its an implied play at the auditorium. You know, plays where popular during Greek times. In any case, this Greek genre scene deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting is called "Hamadryad" . A dryad is a type of nymph. The Hamadryad is a dryad bonded to a particular tree (from which they where born from). If their three dies, the dryad dies with it. In this particular painting, a Hamadryad is being lured out by the sound of music being played by Pan. You know, the half human half ram deity. Its a typical mythological forest scene. Now that I think about it... this one is also a female nude.., Oh well, that makes three thus far. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting shows a mermaid combing out her hair. Next to her, there is a plate filled with sea shells. She looks real pretty addressing the viewer. I think she is inside her grotto. Her scaly tail looks quite realistic. Other than that, we have a regular looking reef cave scenery. 5 stars for Waterhouse.
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