Boreas by John William Waterhouse, 1903
Oil on canvas
68.8 x 94 cm
About the Art
Pre-Raphaelite style painting oil on canvas.
Called Boreas after the north wind in Greek mythology, the work shows a young girl in a windswept landscape. In 1904 the Royal Academy notes described the subject as: “In wind-blown draperies of slate-colour and blue, a girl passes through a spring landscape accented by pink blossom and daffodils”.
The reappearance of Waterhouse’s Boreas in the saleroom in the mid 1990s caused a sensation as it had been lost for 90 years. Since then, the picture’s whereabouts have been unknown and it was referred to as “lost” in Anthony Hobson’s 1989 biography of Waterhouse.
The Greek god of the North Wind who lived in Thrace. He is depicted as being winged, extremely strong, bearded and normally clad in a short pleated tunic. He is the son of Eos and Astraeus, and the brother of Zephyrus, Eurus and Notus.
Boreas has two sons, two daughters and twelve mares which can race over the ground without destroying the grain. When the Persian navy of Xerxes threatened the city of Athens, the Athenians begged his assistance. The Great Wind of the Wintery North blew his anger at the Persians and 400 Persian ships sank immediately. Among other violent acts he abducted Oreithyia, the daughter of the king of Athens, when she was playing on the banks of the Ilissus. In Latin, he is called Aquilo. pantheon.org
The reappearance of Waterhouse’s Boreas in the saleroom in the mid 1990s caused a sensation as it had been lost for 90 years. Since then, the picture’s whereabouts have been unknown and it was referred to as “lost” in Anthony Hobson’s 1989 biography of Waterhouse.
The Greek god of the North Wind who lived in Thrace. He is depicted as being winged, extremely strong, bearded and normally clad in a short pleated tunic. He is the son of Eos and Astraeus, and the brother of Zephyrus, Eurus and Notus.
Boreas has two sons, two daughters and twelve mares which can race over the ground without destroying the grain. When the Persian navy of Xerxes threatened the city of Athens, the Athenians begged his assistance. The Great Wind of the Wintery North blew his anger at the Persians and 400 Persian ships sank immediately. Among other violent acts he abducted Oreithyia, the daughter of the king of Athens, when she was playing on the banks of the Ilissus. In Latin, he is called Aquilo. pantheon.org
About the Artist
John William Waterhouse (baptised 6 April 1849; died 10 February 1917) was an English painter known for working in the Pre-Raphaelite style. He worked several decades after the breakup of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, which had seen its heyday in the mid-nineteenth century, leading him to have gained the moniker of “the modern Pre-Raphaelite”.[1] Borrowing stylistic influences not only from the earlier Pre-Raphaelites but also from his contemporaries, the Impressionists, his artworks were known for their depictions of women from both ancient Greek mythology and Arthurian legend.
Born in Italy to English parents who were both painters, he later moved to London, where he enrolled in the Royal Academy of Art. He soon began exhibiting at their annual summer exhibitions, focusing on the creation of large canvas works depicting scenes from the daily life and mythology of ancient Greece. Later on in his career he came to embrace the Pre-Raphaelite style of painting despite the fact that it had gone out of fashion in the British art scene several decades before.
Although not as well known as earlier Pre-Raphaelite artists such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais and William Holman Hunt, Waterhouse’s work is currently displayed at several major British art galleries, and the Royal Academy of Art organised a major retrospective of his work in 2009.
One of Waterhouse’s most famous paintings is The Lady of Shalott, a study of Elaine of Astolat, who dies of grief when Lancelot will not love her. He actually painted three different versions of this character, in 1888, 1894, and 1916. Another of Waterhouse’s favorite subjects was Ophelia; the most famous of his paintings of Ophelia depicts her just before her death, putting flowers in her hair as she sits on a tree branch leaning over a lake. Waterhouse would paint Ophelia again in 1894 and 1909 or 1910, and planned another painting in the series, called “Ophelia in the Churchyard”.
Waterhouse could not finish the series of Ophelia paintings because he was gravely ill with cancer by 1915.
Born in Italy to English parents who were both painters, he later moved to London, where he enrolled in the Royal Academy of Art. He soon began exhibiting at their annual summer exhibitions, focusing on the creation of large canvas works depicting scenes from the daily life and mythology of ancient Greece. Later on in his career he came to embrace the Pre-Raphaelite style of painting despite the fact that it had gone out of fashion in the British art scene several decades before.
Although not as well known as earlier Pre-Raphaelite artists such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais and William Holman Hunt, Waterhouse’s work is currently displayed at several major British art galleries, and the Royal Academy of Art organised a major retrospective of his work in 2009.
One of Waterhouse’s most famous paintings is The Lady of Shalott, a study of Elaine of Astolat, who dies of grief when Lancelot will not love her. He actually painted three different versions of this character, in 1888, 1894, and 1916. Another of Waterhouse’s favorite subjects was Ophelia; the most famous of his paintings of Ophelia depicts her just before her death, putting flowers in her hair as she sits on a tree branch leaning over a lake. Waterhouse would paint Ophelia again in 1894 and 1909 or 1910, and planned another painting in the series, called “Ophelia in the Churchyard”.
Waterhouse could not finish the series of Ophelia paintings because he was gravely ill with cancer by 1915.
Blog Tour
The Blog Tour deadline is April 25th.
Links must be added to the monthly challenge post comments (this post).
The Blog Tour will be on the 27th.
Monthly Challenge Winners
Winners will be randomly chosen from all the qualifying entries on May 1st.
Our Sponsors
Our Sponsors this month are Erin Prais-Hintz and FHF Team.
Please visit us tomorrow to see the prizes!
Featured Designer of the Week:
From all the entries during the month, an editor is going to pick their favorite design to be featured every Monday here on ABS. We want to give our participants more time in the spotlight! Our Featured Designer will be this Monday, so get those entries in soon.
How to enter the Monthly Challenge:
1. Create something using an art bead that fits within our monthly theme. We post the art to be used as your inspiration to create. This challenge is open to jewelry-makers, fiber artists, collage artist, etc. The art bead can be created by you or someone else. The challenge is to inspire those who use art beads and to see all the different ways art beads can be incorporated into your handiwork.
***Beads strung on a chain, by themselves and beads simply wire or cord will not be accepted.***
2. Upload your photo to our flickr group. Detailed instructions can be found here and click here for a tutorial for sending your picture to the group.
Please add the tag or title APR ABS to your photos. Include a short description, who created the art beads and a link to your blog, if you have one.
Deadline is April 30th. Photos are approved by our moderators, if a photo hasn’t followed the guidelines it will not be approved. You may upload 2 photos a day.
What is an Art Bead?
An art bead is a bead, charm, button or finding made by an independent artist. Art beads are the vision and handiwork of an individual artist. You can read more about art beads here.
***A bead that is handmade is not necessarily an art bead. Hill Tribe Silver, Kazuri ceramic beads or lampwork beads made in factories are examples of handmade beads that are not considered art beads.
Beaded beads, stamped metal pendants or wire-wrapped components are not considered art beads for our challenge.***
p.s. If you have a blog, post your entry and a link to the ABS challenge to spread the beady goodness.
jenna
April 3, 2012 at 3:49 pmSuch a beautiful, inspiring piece. I can't wait to get started.
Lorelei Eurto
April 3, 2012 at 3:57 pmI rarely get an idea right away for the ABS challenge, but one popped into my head immediately when I saw this month's painting! woah! excellent!
Leah Curtis
April 3, 2012 at 6:17 pmThis is right up my street. It's such a beautifully moody painting. Great choice!
Meena
April 3, 2012 at 7:28 pmhey, i've got a giveaway! check it out! please!!!!!
http://vanillastudies.blogspot.com/p/help-me.html
Jill - Kiln Fired Art
April 4, 2012 at 5:11 pmI've just discovered this blog, and want to say i think it's fabulous. I'm just starting out lampworking
Beaditi
April 4, 2012 at 5:19 pmLOVE these earth tones and just created a treasury around it featuring JEWELRY SUPPLIES – do check it out !
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTA1NTg4NDF8MjY2MzIyMzgzMg/earth-toned-spring-fashion-art-bead
Meena
April 4, 2012 at 8:28 pmi'm confused!!
Jo
April 4, 2012 at 11:10 pmSuch a beautiful painting! I think I've got the perfect beads too.
Beth Hemmila
April 5, 2012 at 6:01 pmThis is gorgeous! I'm guessing there are going to be some beautiful pieces. xoxo Beth
Karen Williams
April 7, 2012 at 6:25 pmI discovered and fell in love with Waterhouse and the other Pre-Raphaelite's work back in high school and college. But it wasn't until reading this post that I realized Waterhouse wasn't actually a contemporary with the others. So thanks for helping me learn something new!
Now I have to think of what jewelry I might make for this Pre-Raphaelite maiden.
Tracy
April 9, 2012 at 2:56 amSuch a beautiful painting, I just love the sense of movement and texture. My entry in this month's challenge is on my blog:
http://tracystillmandesigns.com/2012/04/09/abs-april-monthly-challenge/
Lynda
April 14, 2012 at 10:03 pmLove so much about this painting…the color palette, the mood, the subject, texture of the fabrics. Can't wait to see how others are inspired. My entry is posted here:
http://freshbakeddesigns.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/boreas-by-waterhouse/
See you all on the 27th!
Lynda
Fresh Baked Designs
Cece
April 15, 2012 at 4:05 pmLove this painting. See what creation it inspired here:
http://www.thebeadingyogini.com/2012/04/15/april-art-bead-scene-challenge/
Kimberly Idalski
April 16, 2012 at 11:38 amThis was such a beautiful inspiration. It reminded me of my sister that is now an angel. So I put alot of love into my entry. Hope you enjoy it here is my blog link , Happy creating everyone and much luck to all.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog_post/Kimis-Jewelry-From-The-Heart/7626
Kim Idalski
April 16, 2012 at 11:41 amhaving problems getting my link to post. Hope it works this time. I really enjoyed this piece of art, the painting was so lovely. Who wouldnt be inspired. I put alot of love into it. enjoy and many thanks. please leave comments
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog_post/Kimis-Jewelry-From-The-Heart/7626
EB Bead and Metal Works, LLC
April 21, 2012 at 4:26 pmMom and I were totally inspired by this month's challenge painting. You can see our piece here:
http://ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com/2012/04/april-abs-challenge-piece-north-wind.html
Kym Hunter Designs
April 23, 2012 at 4:00 amThis piece is so beautiful and inspiring. I love the designs that have been submitted so far. Please include me in the blog tour on the 27th.
http://kymhunterdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/04/april-abs-monthly-challange.html
Beth McLarnan
April 24, 2012 at 3:25 pmI got my piece in on time! Go Bethie! This was really fun, I love this painting so much. You can check out my blog too 🙂
http://threetrees-art.blogspot.com/2012/04/art-bead-scene-april-challenge.html
APolymerPenchant
April 25, 2012 at 2:24 amI'm so very excited to share my pieces!
http://apolymerpenchant.blogspot.ca/2012/04/art-bead-scene-april-challenge.html
hopefully I've got it all set 🙂
jenna
April 25, 2012 at 2:25 amMy piece is blogged! Loved this one.
http://honeybijou.blogspot.com/2012/04/april-art-bead-scene-entry-masks-and.html
Sharyl
April 26, 2012 at 3:26 amMy blog is up and ready to go! Thanks! Sharyl / Sharyl's Jewelry
http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/2012/04/abs-challenge-april-2012-boreas.html