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John William Waterhouse

Timeline PDF Print E-mail

A Timeline of Paintings exhibited by Waterhouse, and of Key Events during and after his Life

 

A Mermaid
A Mermaid
Waterhouse's diploma work for the Royal Academy. It is displayed today in the Diploma Gallery at the Royal Academy, London.

John William Waterhouse exhibited at London's Royal Academy of Arts (R.A.) between the years 1874 - 1917. He also exhibited at the Society of British Artists (S.B.A.) (later the Royal Society of British Artists (R.B.A.)), Grosvenor Gallery (G.G.), New Gallery (N.G.), Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours (R.I.), Royal Institute of Oil Painters (I.O.P.) (formerly Institute of Painters in Oil-Colours), the Dudley Gallery (DG), the Liverpool Gallery (L) and the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (R.B.S.A.). The only year between 1872 and 1917 when a Waterhouse painting was not exhibited was 1915.

His wife, Esther Maria Waterhouse, an artist in her own right, exhibited a number of paintings from 1885 to 1925. The current location of her paintings is unknown.

The list below documents the dates and galleries where Waterhouse first exhibited his paintings, along with a brief timeline of important events in his life, and after his death in 1917.

 

Timeline Year Painting Title Where Exhibited Catalogue Notes
"Nino" Waterhouse is born around January 1849 in Rome, Italy. Son of the artist William Waterhouse (1816-90). 1849      
In 1854, the family returns to London. 1854      
Death of Waterhouse's mother (from tuberculosis), aged 36. 1857      
William Waterhouse marries Frederica Mary Jane Perceval (1828-1903), granddaughter of the assassinated British PM Spencer Perceval. 1860      
Waterhouse assists in his father's studio. 1868      
Probationer, Royal Academy Schools. 1870      
Student of sculpture, Royal Academy Schools. 1871      
Exhibited first works at the Society of British Artists. 1872
Undine
Bedouin Woman
The Slave
S.B.A.
S.B.A.
S.B.A.
 
 
 
From 1873-80, revisits Italy and exhibits Roman subjects. 1873
Vendeur à L'Eau
The Unwelcome Companion: a Street Scene in Cairo
Pygmalion and the Statue
Gone but not Forgotten
S.B.A.
S.B.A.
S.B.A.
D.G.
 
 
 
First painting exhibited at the Royal Academy. Address listed by R.A. as 11 Scarsdale Villas, Kensington, London (parents' address). Note: Trippi and Hobson list the house number as '11'; the RA notes lists it as '1'. 1874
Sleep and his Half-brother Death
La Fileuse
An Eastern Reminiscence
Summer Blossoms— Autumn Leaves
In the Peristyle
The Old Well
R.A.
S.B.A.
S.B.A.
S.B.A.
D.G.
D.G.
 
 
 
 
Address listed by R.A. as 70 Holland Road, London (parents' address). 1875
Miranda
Whispered Words
Zenobia
A Bit of Nature
Patchwork
Margaret, Scottish Martyr
A Quiet Study
R.A.
R.A.
S.B.A.
S.B.A.
S.B.A.
D.G.
D.G.
 
 
 
 
 
  1876
After the Dance
Francesca
R.A.
D.G.
 
  1877
A Sick Child brought into the Temple of Aesculapius
R.A.
 
Address: 3 Primrose Hill Studios, N.W. 1878
The Tibia
The Remorse of Nero after the Murder of his Mother
A Flower Seller
R.A.
R.A.
D.G.
 
 
  1879
La Favorita
A Chestnut Vendor
Flute Player
Offerings to the Gods
Dolce Far Niente
Day Dreams
R.A.
D.G.
L.
D.G.
D.G.
D.G.
 
  1880
The Household Gods
A Pompeian Shop
A Flower Stall
A Greek Play
R.A.
R.A.
D.G.
D.G.
 
 
  1881
Rival Roses
A Summer's Day in Greece
St Eulalia
(watercolour)
An Herodian
R.A.
R.A.
D.G.
R.B.S.A.
 
  1882
Diogenes
Winter
R.A.
R.B.S.A.
 
Marries Esther Kenworthy (1857-1944) on 8 September 1883. The Favourites of the Emperor Honorius bought for the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide. 1883
The Bubbles
The Favourites of the Emperor Honorius
Spring
Fishing
R.A.
R.A.
I.O.P.
I.O.P.
 
 
 
 
  1884
Consulting the Oracle *
Spring
A Byway, Ancient Rome
R.A.
R.I.
I.O.P.
* The Oracle or Teraph was a human head, cured with spices, which was fixed against the wall, and lamps being lit before it and other rites performed, the imagination of diviners was so excited that they supposed that they heard a low voice speaking future events.
Elected A.R.A. (Associate Member of the Royal Academy). 1885
St. Eulalia *
Gossip
Resting
R.A.
I.O.P.
R.I.
* Prudentius says that the body of St. Eulalia was shrouded "by a miraculous fall of snow when lying exposed in the forum after her martyrdom."
 
 
  1886
The Magic Circle *
A Flower Market
R.A.
G.G.
* Purchased for the Chantrey Bequest for £650.
 
Address: 6 Primrose Hill Studios, N.W. 1887
Mariamne *
R.A.
* Mariamne, wife of King Herod the Great, going forth to execution after her trial for the false charges brought against her by the jealousy of Salome, the King's sister, his mother, and others of his family. After Mariamne's trial and condemnation by the judges appointed by her husband, Herod, who had been passionately attached to his wife, was about to commute the sentence to imprisonment for life, but was urged by Salome to have the sentence carried out, which was accordingly done. See Josephus.
  1888
The Lady of Shalott *
A Rescue
A Back Street in Venice
R.A.
R.A.
G.G.
* "And down the river's dim expanse,
Like some bold seër in a trance,
. . . . .
The broad stream bore her far away."
The Lady of Shalott
 
Mariamne gains the Bronze Model, Paris Exposition Universelle. 1889
Under the Olives
Ophelia
R.A.
R.A.
 
 
Death of William Waterhouse. 1890
The Toilet
N.G.
 
Ulysses and the Sirens bought for the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. 1891
Flora
Ulysses and the Sirens *
Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses
R.A.
R.A.
N.G.
* The Sirens, who with their melodious voices lured all navigators to destruction on the dangerous coast of Sicily were, according to classical tradition, creatures having the body of a bird with the head of a beautiful woman. They received this form from Ceres, as a punishment, because they had not assisted her daughter Persephone when carried away by Pluto. They were informed by the oracle that as soon as any passed by without heeding their songs they should perish. Ulysses, warned by Circe, stopped the ears of his companions and ordered himself to be bound to the mast, and so successfully passed the fatal coast. After this the Sirens, in their disappointment, threw themselves into the sea and perished.
Circe Invidiosa bought for the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide. 1892
Circe Invidiosa: Circe poisoning the sea *
Danaë
R.A.
R.A.
* Circe, having endeavoured without success to make Glaucus desert Scylla, poisoned the sea where Scylla was wont to bathe, and thus communicated to her a hideous form.
Mariamne exhibited at the World's Columbian Exhibition, Chicago. 1893
A Hamadryad
"La Belle Dame Sans Merci" *
A Naiad
R.A.
R.A.
N.G.
* Keats
  1894
Field Flowers
The Lady of Shalott
Mrs Charles Newton-Robinson
Ophelia
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
N.G.
 
Elected R.A. (Royal Academician). Offered 1889 Ophelia as his temporary diploma picture. 1895
St. Cecilia *
Phyllis, younger daughter of E.A. Waterlow, Esq., A.R.A.
The Shrine
R.A.
R.A.
N.G.
* "In a clear walled city on the sea, Near gilded organ pipes - slept St. Cecily."
  1896
Pandora
R.A.
 
Mariamne gains Gold Medal, Brussels Exposition Internationale. Hylas and the Nymphs bought for Manchester Art Gallery. 1897
Hylas and the Nymphs
Mariana in the South
R.A.
N.G.
 
  1898
Flora and the Zephyrs
Ariadne
Juliet
R.A.
R.A.
N.G.
 
  1899
Miss Molly Rickman
R.A.
 
Moves to St. John's Wood. R.A. Diploma picture exhibited. Hylas and the Nymphs displayed at the Paris Exposition Universelle. 1900
The Awakening of Adonis
The Lady Clare
R.A.
Messrs.
Agnews'
 
Address: 10, Hall Road, St. John's Wood, N.W., London 1901
Mrs. Schreiber
A Mermaid *
Nymphs finding the Head of Orpheus
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
* Diploma work
  1902
The Crystal Ball
The Missal
R.A.
R.A.
 
Echo and Narcissus bought for Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. 1903
Echo and Narcissus
Psyche opening the Golden Box
Windflowers
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
 
  1904
Psyche opening the Door into Cupid's Garden
Boreas
R.A.
R.A.
 
  1905
Lamia
R.A.
 
  1906
The Danaïdes
R.A.
 
  1907
Isabella
Phyllis and Demophoon
Jason and Medea
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
 
  1908
The Soul of the Rose
Apollo and Daphne
The Lady Violet Henderson
"Gather ye Rose-buds while ye may"
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
 
  1909
Thisbe
Mrs. A.P. Henderson
Lamia
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
 
  1910
"Spring spreads one green lap of flowers"
Ophelia
R.A.
R.A.
 
  1911
Fatima
The Charmer
"Listening to my Sweet Pipings"
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
 
  1912
Penelope and the Suitors
Miss Betty Pollock
Mrs. Ronald McNeill
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
 
  1913
Mrs. Philip Henderson
A Song of Springtime
Narcissus
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
 
  1914
Roma Catriona, daughter of the Rev. D. Macfarlane, Parish Minister of Kingussie
Mrs. Arnold Henderson
The Annunciation
The Love Philtre
The Marchioness of Downshire
Flora
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
L.
 
  1915      
  1916
"'I am half sick of shadows,' said the Lady of Shalott"
Miranda - The Tempest
The Decameron
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
 
Waterhouse died on 10th February, 1917. 1917
Fair Rosamund
Tristram and Isolde
The Enchanted Garden *
Miranda
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
R.A.
* From Boccaccio's Tales.
Studio Sale at Christie's. 1926      
Death of Esther Waterhouse on December 15th 1944. 1944      
Danae stolen in October 1947. 1947      
Centenary of Waterhouse's birth 1949      
Exhibition of Waterhouse's work in Sheffield and Wolverhampton 1978      
Publication of Hobson's monograph 1980      
Publication of Hobson's monograph 1989      
St Cecilia sets auction record for Victorian art 2000      
Publication of Trippi's monograph 2002      
Waterhouse Retrospective Scheduled 2008      
Centenary of Waterhouse's death 2017      

Primary Sources:
Graves, Algernon, The Royal Academy of Arts: A Complete Dictionary of Contributors and their Works from its Foundation in 1769 to 1904, (reprint) 1970
Royal Academy exhibitors, 1905-1970: a dictionary of artists and their work in the Summer Exhibitions of the Royal Academy of Arts, 1982
Sketchley, R.E.D., J.W. Waterhouse, R.A., Christmas Number of the Art Journal, London 1909.
Trippi, Peter, J.W. Waterhouse, Phaidon, 2002
Also, Rob Cartwright (e-mail correspondence).

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