William Waterhouse - Hylas and the Nymphs (1896) In Greek mythology, Hylas was the son of King Theiodamas of the Dryopians. Roman sources such as Ovid state that Hylas’ father was Hercules and his mother was the nymph Melite, or that his mother was the wife of Theiodamas, whose adulterous affair with Heracles caused the war between him and her husband. He gained his beauty from his divine mother and his military prowess from his demigod father. After Heracles killed Theiodamas in battle for his son, Hylas, he took the boy on as arms bearer and taught him to be a warrior. John William Waterhouse had many inspirations around him growing up in his father’s art studio. The inspiration he found in classical and pre-Raphaelite artists is also plain to see in his composition of ‘Hylas and the Nymphs’ as well as the very unique stamp he put on this work himself and his fascination with the captivating female form.Classical Style:As a young artist Waterhouse was heavily influenced by classical artists such as Alma-Tadema and Lord Leighton. The inspiration he took from these artist and others of the same period is reflected in the theme of this painting, a classical tale, as well as the styling of the characters and the composition.Alma-Tadema’s painting, ‘A Favorite Custom’ which he painted in 1909, has a completely different story to that of Waterhouse’s work, and yet its main focus is of the two female-nudes at the forefront of the painting, very similar thematically to ‘Hylas and the Nymphs’.Femme Fatale:The central character of this story, Hylas, is not the main focus of Waterhouse’s painting. Instead, the viewer is drawn to the central Nymph. Not only does Hylas have his back to the viewer but Waterhouse has created this painting so that we almost feel like we are seeing the vision from Hylas’ perspective.The inspiration for this type of perspective come from Waterhouse’s obsession with portraying a femme fatale.

William Waterhouse - Hylas and the Nymphs (1896)

In Greek mythology, Hylas was the son of King Theiodamas of the Dryopians. Roman sources such as Ovid state that Hylas’ father was Hercules and his mother was the nymph Melite, or that his mother was the wife of Theiodamas, whose adulterous affair with Heracles caused the war between him and her husband. He gained his beauty from his divine mother and his military prowess from his demigod father.

After Heracles killed Theiodamas in battle for his son, Hylas, he took the boy on as arms bearer and taught him to be a warrior.

John William Waterhouse had many inspirations around him growing up in his father’s art studio. The inspiration he found in classical and pre-Raphaelite artists is also plain to see in his composition of ‘Hylas and the Nymphs’ as well as the very unique stamp he put on this work himself and his fascination with the captivating female form.

Classical Style:
As a young artist Waterhouse was heavily influenced by classical artists such as Alma-Tadema and Lord Leighton. The inspiration he took from these artist and others of the same period is reflected in the theme of this painting, a classical tale, as well as the styling of the characters and the composition.

Alma-Tadema’s painting, ‘A Favorite Custom’ which he painted in 1909, has a completely different story to that of Waterhouse’s work, and yet its main focus is of the two female-nudes at the forefront of the painting, very similar thematically to ‘Hylas and the Nymphs’.

Femme Fatale:
The central character of this story, Hylas, is not the main focus of Waterhouse’s painting. Instead, the viewer is drawn to the central Nymph. Not only does Hylas have his back to the viewer but Waterhouse has created this painting so that we almost feel like we are seeing the vision from Hylas’ perspective.

The inspiration for this type of perspective come from Waterhouse’s obsession with portraying a femme fatale.

  • February 25
  • , 2012
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