John William Waterhouse (1849-1917) was a British neo-classical and pre-Raphaelite painter. Other famous Pre-Raphaelite artists are Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais and so on. The works of Waterhouse are famous for its vivid colors and mysterious style depicting female characters in classical myths and legends.
However, when William Waterhouse was five, his family went back to England.. Waterhouse in early years learned painting and sculpture in his father's art studio. Later in the year 1870, he entered the Royal College of Art in London. His early works were in a consistent style of paintings in classical themes, which were very popular in some art exhibitions. In 1874 his painting Sleep And His Half Brother Death received favorable comments at the Royal Academy of Arts summer exhibition which resulted in his participation in the annual exhibition of the Royal College of Art.
The painting Sleep And His Half Brother Death is one of Waterhouse's best painting. It shows two figures reclining in short bed in a lighted room. The posture of the figure shows some sort of fatigue. The boy slept outside was illuminated by the light while his half brother was enshrouded by the shadow. This is a subtle contrast, suggesting the diaphragm of life and death. The two boys are just look the same but something different, which initiated ponder of people's life.
Ulysses And The Sirens
In his later years, Waterhouse was elected to the status of full Academician and served on the Royal Academy Council. In his whole life he has created many excellent paintings. Ulysses and the Sirens is another great painting. Sirens is the legendary half-man, half-bird creatures, they are able to confuse sailors by their songs. Ulysses seals the sailors' ears with wax so that they can be free of being impacted by the song. However, Ulysses they can hear the song, so he ties himself to the mast. By this way, he can not manipulate the ship even he is confused by the song of Sirens. Sirens with beautiful heads are flying around the boat. If we look more carefully, we will see their expression is vivid, as if they are singing bewitching songs and we are able to hear them. Other famous paintings by Waterhouse are Undine, After the Dance, Diogenes, The Magic Circle, St Eulalia, etc.
