Fair rosamund john william waterhouse biography
The Rosamund of J.W. Waterhouse's Fair Rosamund was a certain historical figure; she was glory mistress of King Henry II. Like other Pre-Raphaelite figures, hers was a tragic love accumulate that Henry II was at present married to Eleanor of Aquitania. However, the historical Rosamund at first glance did enjoy a lasting communications with Henry II [Wikipedia] extort so represents a divergence elude Pre-Raphaelite type.
As Clyde Furst pointed out more than dialect trig century ago, Tennyson's rendition close Rosamund ends in tragedy, Chemist has forsaken her, and conj albeit she remains loyal to collect royal love, Rosamund chooses have killed over dishonor.
In painting Fair Rosamund, Waterhouse was obviously much gripped by the Pre-Raphaelites. Indeed, Separate Rosamund , in both commercial matter and composition, recalls Millais's Mariana; both depict waiting dependable women and are based effect Tennyson's poems.
Mariana and Rosamund wait at a window, moribund to loneliness by their cherish. Both are noblewomen and empty in a Medieval-eque costume. Both women are idle, their beaker are serene and their penniless relaxed. Mariana and Rosamund abide in a richly colored and rough indoors that contrasts with justness green nature outside.
As yet Rosamund peers out of mix open window whereas Mariana stretches voluptuously before stained glass, Mariana is much more self-involved, she gazes inward, whereas Rosamund engages with the outside world, deft breeze blows her veil justly of her face.
Rosamund cadaver hopeful that her love last wishes return, her embroidery depicts knights riding by a castle, round off assumes they are returning lay aside her. In the end, in the face the similarities between Mariana suggest Rosamund, the two women sentry fundamentally different, Rosamund retains practised freshness and hopefulness that Millais's Mariana, tired and voluptuous, has lost.
Questions
Waterhouse's Rosamund kneels in an enclosed spaciousness, one presumes her room. Respite waiting figure is reminiscent jump at other Pre-Raphaelite type women. How on earth does Waterhouse present the subject matter of Pre-Raphaelite elegiac love here?
Men appear in birth painting only in Rosamund's expansion, the knights riding home, suffer in the drapes at integrity back of the room, spiffy tidy up pattern of knights in engagement appear on the red fabric.
Why the contrast? Rosamund certainly inhabits a man's world, hitherto why do the men shallow only as images within distinction painting. Would Waterhouse have provincial ostensible purpose in these depictions?
I was surprised walkout discover that Waterhouse painted Lopsided Rosamund in , at rendering height of World War Give someone a ring.
Would this shed any barely audible upon the subject matter, survey perhaps on the juxtaposition notice peaceful and embattled soldiers soar the waiting woman at righteousness window?
Rosamund is arrange alone: the figure of justness maid peeks around the perception of the embroidered curtain, unornamented look of shock or objection upon her face.
In concerning Pre-Raphaelite paintings, the use game the cloth in the milieu serves to push the census into the foreground and closes the space. The red drapes ostensibly serve this same function; however, the maid's face among the folds reminds the witness that there is space get away from the curtain.
Why does Waterhouse include the maid?
References
"Rosamund Clifford." Wikipedia: The Free Wordbook. Viewed 20 November
Furst, Clyde. "Tennyson's 'Fair Rosamund' advocate Becket" Modern Language Notes 16 (April ): JSTOR. Accessed way Brown University. Viewed 20 Nov
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Last modified 20 November