John William Waterhouse was a painter of classical; historical; and literary subjects. Before entering the Royal Academy schools in 1870; Waterhouse assisted his father in his studio. His early works were of classical themes in the spirit of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema and Frederic Leighton; and were exhibited at the Royal Academy; the Society of British Artists and the Dudley Gallery. In the late 1870s and the 1880s; Waterhouse made several trips to Italy; where he painted genre scenes. The latter painting reveals Waterhouses growing interest in themes associated with the Pre-Raphaelites; particularly tragic or powerful femmes fatales; as well as plein-air painting. In the 1890s Waterhouse began to exhibit portraits. In 1900 he was the primary instigator of the Artists War Fund; creating Destiny; and contributing to a theatrical performance. Despite suffering from increasing frailty during the final decade of his life; Waterhouse continued painting until his death from cancer in 1917.
2016-03-04 2016-03-04File Name: B01C5PQGO6
Review
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful. brilliant; thought provoking; challengingBy John E. DruryContinuing his cultural dissection of the twentieth century; Modris Eksteins; the noted Canadian author of the acclaimed "Rites of Spring" and "Walking Since Daybreak;" focuses on the publics obsession with the art and life of Vincent Van Gogh. Zeroing in on the 1929 fraud conviction of a German artist; Otto Wacker; for selling false Van Gogh paintings; he uses this minutely examined trial; involving a battle of art experts; for what is real Vincent and what is fake Vincent as emblematic of the in-authenticity of our age. Using the Weimar Republics aesthetic of disappointment and disenchantment; Eksteins describes the German attraction to the spiritualism of Van Gogh; "his light and darkness; sunflowers and crows; sower and reaper" which influenced German Abstract Expressionism; the likes of the painter Francis Bacon; the poetry of Paul Celan and German Neo-Expressionism. Learned; thought- provoking; wide-ranging; this book uses Van Gogh and his art to launch an examination of the mores and sensibilities of Western culture; i.e.; `the victory of uncertainty;" as he calls it; "that final core of uncertainty at the heart of things." One senses the fertility of Ecksteins analysis and his cultural sensibility as he gets beyond cant and glibness contending that our society "has dispatched our gods and replaced them with celebrities."Eksteins repeats Clement Greenberg piercing query; is Van Goghs art the product of a professional command of his art;" [or the product] "of his derangement that made him the painter that he was?" A fair question; not answered by Eksteins; who admits his non expertise; but relevant nonetheless to the authors thesis of the celebrity status bestowed on Van Gogh a century after his suicide in Auvers; France; a suicide now questioned in the fascinating new biography "Van Gogh: A Life" by Steven W. Naifeh and Gregory White Smith.The book skimps on paintings; so Eksteins invites the reader to access the website "vggallery.com;" an extraordinary educational resource of all of his paintings compiled by a Canadian scholar. In a footnote at the end of the book; he cites to Martin Baileys 1996 Art News article which challenges the authenticity of a large number of Van Gogh paintings in notable public museums and private collections which only goes to re-enforce his thesis.This book is a joy to read and to sense; given the degree of ones interest; that this is not the end of our analysis of Van Gogh; his art; his life and our reaction to it; but the beginning.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Will the real Van Gogh stand up!!!By Bernard . PuckerThe use and abuse; the sanctification and sacrilege surrounding this immense and troubled artist has allowed Eksteins to explore 20th century history and hysteria in the Western world . His provocative and innovative approach allows us to revisit and re engage with the art and the artist. Van Gogh has become a superstar in a world searching for meaning and symbols of its values. Eksteins explores all of the manifestations of Van Gogh mania.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. best read at night with a cup o teaBy eugenixNowhere near as good or profound as his book on the birth of modernism; "The Rites of Spring;" or his follow up on the plight of the Baltic states at the end of WW2; "Walking Since Day Break;" "Solar Dance" had some great insights into the Van Gogh obsession and the parallels to challenges in modernity/postmodernity for authenticity and legitimation of knowledge or expertise for a given body of knowledge. Not the place to start if you are new to these themes; but Eksteins has churned out another great and original historical study. I highly recommend.
