J W Waterhouse (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

J.W. Waterhouse was one of the most successful painters of the Victorian age, with many of his paintings becoming archetypal Victorian images. In this book the author, a practising painter and teacher, gives an artist's appreciation of Waterhouse as a master of Romantic Classicism.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (January 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714828645
• ISBN-13: 978-0714828640
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #338,663 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Don't get this one for the reproductions, March 11, 2004

By A Customer

I think I made a mistake when ordering and accidentally got this book instead of Trippi's hardcover. The narrative is interesting and insightful, but the reproductions are an outrage. Black and white for Circe Ividiosa and for (gasp) THE MAGIC CIRCLE??? Come on! Black and white should only be used to make a point about light and shade or for lesser works and studies. But there are several masterworks reproduced in B/W in this book. Also, the color reproductions are lousy as well. 3 stars overall out of respect for the author, but 1 star for the plates.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A brief introduction to the artist, May 28, 2006

By	Rosamede (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

If you're looking for a brief intro into who Waterhouse was and his paintings, then this book is for you. If however, you want to see his paintings in color and larger sizes, then do not get this book. This book is an overview of Waterhouse's life and paintings, not the complete story. For the complete story and paintings, buy Trippi's book instead.

The text is laid out well and in sequence of Waterhouse's life. I found myself compelled to read the entire book in a short time.

There are some color pictures, but they are not as vibrant as the Trippi book. Many of the pictures are black and white and some are quite small, fitting into the margins. It was frustrating to see the b&W pictures and to try to imagine what they were really supposed to look like. But if all you want is an overview and a sampling of Waterhouse's art, then this book may be more manageable than Trippi's.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Waterhouse: An Artist's Artist, July 13, 2000

By	Professor Emeritus P. Bagnolo "Slugger/BIGGUY" (DOWNTOWN NYC/Chic. NM USA) - See all my reviews

During my education and professional life as an artist and professor of art, the work of the Pre-Raphaelites and their contemporaries especially Waterhouse was/is extremely appealing and inspirational to me and many of my peers who are painters or illustrators. His work is among the best of his and any era since. The lavish reproductions in this book do homage to the wonderful God-given ability of the artist. Waterhouse's nymphs, faeries and women are innocent, gorgeous, and fetching, his colors deep, dark and lush, his men heroic and altruistic. If you love PreRaphaelite era art, Romanticism, mythical stories skillfully represented in figure art, this is the book for you. Though I bought the book for the reproductions, I recently read the text and found it helpful.