John William Waterhouse of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Part 2: Rome
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John William Waterhouse of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Part 2: Rome
Ok, hello chibis. Here is the second blog of Waterhouse. The first blog dealt with subject matters of Waterhouse's time period (more or less). This one will feature scenes from the Roman Empire. The first one is called Dolce far Niente. Its a french name. I am not certain about its English title. In any case, it does not matter much. This is a historical genre scene. Here a Roman lady is resting on her sofa. She is outside the patio looking at some doves. The architecture is quite accurate. I like the checkerboard floor a lot. Its pretty neat the Roman Lady's fan. Back then, having one's hair pulled up was the fashion. To have it down meant you where a maniac (or a crazed female worshiper of Bacchus). All honorable Roman woman citizen wore their hair up.
The next painting of Waterhouse is called "Gone but not Forgotten". It is a funerary themed painting. Here we see a wealthy widow visiting her dead husband. She is wearing black, the color of mourning and death. She is gazing at something that appears to be a Roman armor. Perhaps her husband died in the war. Its not too uncommon for all who desire citizenship to join the army. Plus, the veterans had a monopoly of all the seats of powers. During those days, power led to wealth. The usual price for army service were lands and slaves. Thus, there was a lot of pressure for young men to join the army and make a name for themselves. This unknown soldier died for the sake of his loving wife who now mourns for him. This truly wonderful painting deserves 5 star rating.
Aw...how cute. Here this pretty lil girl is feeding three doves, a robin and a raven. I think this one is called "In the Peristyle ". The Peristyle is an open courtyard Roman Garden. They are usually in the center of the house. The lil girl herself is extremely pretty. There is a suggested sensuality about her exposed shoulder. There is also the matter of her loose hair. That lil girl has just become a woman. She is still lot like a child. She enjoys in the frivolous childhood games like feeding the lil birds. Plus, the pink is more of a child like color. The columns in the background are of Doric order. I think that is everything. 5 star rating
This painting is also called Donce Far Niente. Here the Roman maiden is playing around with one of the feathers of her fan. Its interesting the place where she is resting at. You can see a vase with a flower next to her. I guess this too is a genre scene of leisure activities. She does seem as bored as the first maiden from the previous Donce Far Niente. In any case, this lovely painting of Waterhouse deserves 5 star rating.
Now this is another simple one. Its called "A Flower Stall". Here three Roman women are purchasing flowers. The shopkeeper is a maiden covered in a pink mantle. Hey... weren't veiled maidens Jewish back then? I do remember the jews back then were well integrated into the roman society. They set themselves apart from the rest by wearing veils and stuff. There are numerous instances of widows in business. I guess she is of the sort. In any case, this historical genre scene deserves 5 star rating.
The next painting is called " Consulting the Oracle ". Here a group of women are talking to the oracle. In Rome, the oracle was tended by women priestess known as Vespal Virgins. Should they loose their virginity they would be buried alive with their lover. All of the characters are tentative to the words spoken behind the veil. The interpreter is the maiden in black. I think one of the women got a bad prediction. You can see her crying in the background. The other lady next to her is holding her hands to her hearth. She seems very desperate. The scenery itself is quite archeologically accurate. Its really quite the fine rendering of the temple of the oracle. This too might be considered a historical genre painting. It was often that the roman citizens visited the oracles for guidance. I think that is everything. 5 stars for Waterhouse.
The next painting is called "A Sick Child brought into the Temple of Aesculapius". This one too is a genre scene. In the old days, they used to take the sick to the temple of the gods. Here the priest in white is performing the ritual. I think the sick child is the girl sitting on the floor. Her lil sister is helping in the healing ritual. She is holding up a laurel leaf as her mother guides her hand movements. Meanwhile, the father in brown is observing his small child to make certain she does not make mistakes.Behind them you can see a slave with a broom. It is a typical hospital of the time.All are praying in front of the statue of the deity. Close to the foreground we can see an offering of fruits. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
This painting ,like the others, shows Waterhouse's eye for detail. I mean, look at the tiles on the floor!! Can you imagine how long it took to paint each lil line? Anyhow, this painting is called "After the Dance". Here the dancing slaves are resting after entertaining their masters. The lil girl is sleeping while the boy is looking on forward. In the background, we can see the musicians and an onlooker. I think they had a lot of those weird mats with pillows all over the house in case someone ever needed a nap.Perhaps, the Romans lacked the concept of bedroom. Other interesting things about the room are the vase and the relief. In the relief, we see some people being crowed with laurels. In any case, this lovely high detail painting deserves 5 star rating.
This painting is called " At Capri". I guess Capri is another place in the roman household. Here the mother is making trenzas (I don't know what it is called in English). Her lil daughter has just finished and is looking at her reflection. She has a lil flower on her hair. Both do look cute and quite realistic. In front of them, there is a garden. Near the lil girl there is a blue bead necklace. I like a lot that fancy rug. It looks Persian. If I remember correctly, Pre-Raphealites liked to depict redheads often. The mother has the loveliest red hair. In any case, this too is another historical genre scene. In any case, this lovely Waterhouse painting deserves 5 star rating.
This painting is called "The Favorites of the Emperor Honorius" . His rule was one major fiasco. He is in the middle of Business, but all he cares about is feeding his birdies. You can see in the background, the senators trying to address the Emperor. However, Honorius has only eyes for his pigeons and his chickens. The inside of the palace is rather luxurious. The throne is really something else. You can see incense near him. Well, even by declining Roman Empire standards Honorius was a really bad ruler.
He became ruler at the age of eight. In this painting we see that he does not seem to have grasped the seriousness of his position. Well, that's what hereditary rule does for you. One king is good and the rest go from bad to worse. Machiavelli mentions this in his Discourse of Levi. There he argues for a Republic after the Prince restores order in the kingdom. Anyhow, Honorius is mostly know for being the Emperor during the sacking of Rome. Man, those Barbarians turned the capital upside down. In any case, Waterhouse's painting of the inept Emperor deserves 5 star rating.
Ok, the next painting is called "The Slave". That must be that maiden in blue. She is a Persian slave. Well, those Romans did get around. Aw... I don't think this one belongs to post. Oh well, I am not gonna stuff it in the previous blog. Lets just get moving. Basically, we have a cute Persian slave. Her master is sitting down on top of a mat. A nice Romanticism painting. 5 stars.
Ok, this one is "La Fileuse". I think a fileuse is that ball yarn that the lady is holding. She is loosing up a string. I think she is making a robe. Her golden dress is just as fine. Sewing has been quite popular ever since the creation of yarn. In any case, this genre Roman painting deserves 5 star rating.
Ok, the next Roman lady is meditating next to a lil pagan idol. I would have found a better version, but I do not know the title of this painting. The laurel leaf is a sign of a philosopher. I guess she might come up with an odd theory or two real soon. In any case ,this painting deserves 5 star rating.
The top darling is Cleopatra. She was half Greek, half Egyptian. She was ruling Egypt during the time of Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony. She killed herself because she did not want to be a political prisoner. Here she is at the prime of her power. She was one powerful Pharaoh. She has her hand on top of a polar bear's head. Plus, her face is so stern, so serious. In any case, this lovely painting of Waterhouse deserves 5 star rating.
In this painting we have "The Remorse of the Emperor Nero after the Murder of his Mother". I remember Nero. He was a really unpopular Emperor. He built himself a fancy mansion of solid gold (I am not joking). This obviously did not win him any points with the Roman citizenship. As a matter of fact, he was the inspiration for the apocalypse. His name's number was the 666. Many blamed him for setting Rome on fire. Mostly cause he built his fancy palace on top of the ruins of the city. I think he was seen as the devil because he burned Christians whenever he was cold in his garden. His paranoia led him to slay his own mother. Here in this painting, he is feeling remorseful (inside his golden palace). In any case, this lovely painting deserves 5 star rating.
This painting is called "The Household Gods". The two main Gods closer to us are Hera and Zeus. The next one is Athena. She usually wears an armor or sports her hair like a boy. In the background, I can see a relief of some dancing folks. Its pretty interesting the rituals taking place in this temple. In any case, this painting of Waterhouse deserves 5 star rating.
Well, what Romans are really famous for is for their elaborate executions. Here they have just finished their handiwork on Saint Eulalia. She was 13 years old when executed. For being a christian, she was subjected to 13 tortures. Here she has just been cut down from the cross. You can see her lifeless body on the cold ground. Around her, hundreds of doves are coming to see her. Meanwhile, the roman legionaries are keeping the curious onlookers from burying the body. The scenery is not half bad. You can see the Doric Architecture in the background. I think there are even a few Corinthian columns here and there. In any case, this painting of Waterhouse deserves 5 star rating.
The last one is "Mariamne Leaving the Judgement Seat of Herod". If I remember correctly, Herod was the guy who tried to slay baby Jesus. He also massacred the innocents (all the male children between the ages of newborns and two year old's). He was so paranoid about the messiah back then. He wanted to hold onto the seat of power so badly that he had his wife and children executed. You see, Mariamne was needed to legitimize his rule. Herod was not a true legitimate Jew. He married Mariamne because of her direct line to the old Jewish Empire. However, at a certain point he grew distrusting of her and thus had her killed.
Here she is just leaving the Seat of Herod after hearing the decree of her execution. You can see her anger in the clenching of her fist. She is giving one final look at her husband in the hope that he changes his mind. There is a lot of restrained emotions in this painting. It is truly something else. As a matter of fact, I never seen a depiction in artwork of this event. In any case, this lovely painting deserves 5 star rating. I hope that you enjoy this wonderful art blog. I still have two more updates on the Waterhouse matter.
Description: The Great Roman Artwork of John William Waterhouse • About: Rating each and every relevant Roman painting of Waterhouse • Accountable Person: Fernando Blanco • Author: Teresita Blanco • Awards: None • Content Location: art • Content Rating: 5 • Contributor: Fernando Blanco • Copyright Holder: Teresita Blanco • Copyright Year: 2012 • Creator: Teresita Blanco • Editor: Fernando Blanco • Genre: art blog • Headline: John William Waterhouse of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Part 2: Rome • Keywords: art, citizens, death, doves, empire, flowers, garden, genre, girls, graveyard, historical, honor, John William Waterhouse, laurel, patio, pre-raphaelite, ritual, rome, ruler, saints • Mentions: Nero,Cleopatra,Herod • Provider: Me • Publisher: Blogger • Publishing Principles: Teresita Blanco • Source Organization: Phi Stars • Version: 7 • Item Reviewed: Romanticism Paintings • Review Rating: 5 •
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