is for Waterhouse
John William Waterhouse was an artist who painted in the Pre-Raphaelite style, many years after the original Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood had ceased to exist. Today I am going to concentrate on his portrayal of The Lady of Shalott.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote the ballad set at the time of King Arthur, based on the medieval story of Elaine of Astolat.
Unable to look directly on Camelot because of a curse, she must content herself with the reflection in a mirror.
His broad clear brow in sunlight glow’d;
On burnish’d hooves his war-horse trode;
From underneath his helmet flow’d
His coal-black curls as on he rode,
As he rode down from Camelot.
From the bank and from the river
He flash’d into the crystal mirror,
‘Tirra lirra, tirra lirra:’
Sang Sir Lancelot.
She left the web, she left the loom
She made three paces thro’ the room
She saw the water-flower bloom,
She saw the helmet and the plume,
She look’d down to Camelot.
Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack’d from side to side;
‘The curse is come upon me,’ cried
The Lady of Shalott.
By the water stood the queenly
Lady of Shalott.
With a steady stony glance—
Like some bold seer in a trance,
Beholding all his own mischance,
Mute, with a glassy countenance—
She look’d down to Camelot.
It was the closing of the day:
She loos’d the chain, and down she lay;
The broad stream bore her far away,
The Lady of Shalott.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Lizanne lost in a good book 
I love John Waterhouse’s paintings. I even have a couple of prints of his paintings. 🙂
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