Lot 1
  • 1

John William Waterhouse, R.A., R.I.

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description

  • John William Waterhouse, R.A., R.I.
  • Study for "I'm Half Sick of Shadows" Said the Lady of Shallot
  • pencil
  • 23 by 20cm., 9 by 8in.

Provenance

The artist's estate, by whom sold Christie's, London, 23 July 1926, 'The Remaining works of the late J.W. Waterhouse, Esq., R.A.', probably part of lot 8 (21 studies of girl's heads);  
F.W. Chapman, Haslemere, from whom purchased by a private collector and thence by descent

Condition

Support This delicate drawing is on blue/grey, wove paper unevenly torn at top and foot maybe by the artist. The paper has faded to a light buff colour in a rectangle to show most of the image. There are a few spots of the original paper colour, mostly towards the right. The sheet has surface dirt and staining at the edges, a group of artist pinholes are evident upper left and there are two more towards the top right. Medium The pencil medium is strong and in a good condition. JANE McAUSLAND London office: Flat 3, 41 Lexington Street, Soho, London W1F 9AJ Accredited Conservator Fellow of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works Jane McAusland Limited trading as Jane McAusland FIIC Registered in England & Wales No.4330838 Registered VAT No. 236 3828 52
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Catalogue Note

This is a sketch for the greatest of Waterhouse’s late canvases, the last painting in a series of pictures inspired by Alfred Tennyson’s poem 'The Lady of Shallot'. The first of the series (Tate) was painted in 1888 and depicts the tragic protagonist embarking on her last voyage, consumed by the curse that had befallen her. This picture was to become Waterhouse’s most famous painting and remains one of the most popular pictures on public display in Britain. In 1894 Waterhouse painted another Lady of Shallot, this time entwined with the threads of her tapestry (Leeds City Art Gallery) but it would be almost twenty years before he returned to the poem to paint ‘I am Half Sick of Shadows’, Said the Lady of Shallot (Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto). The 1915 painting depicts the earliest episode from the poem that Waterhouse would paint and shows the imprisoned maiden dreaming of unfulfilled love and her frustration at only being able to view the outside world through the reflections in her mirror.