The Soul of the Rose (1908) by John William Waterhouse

John William Waterhouse (1849-1917), British, a leading figure of the British Pre-Raphaelite movement, blended academic precision with poetic symbolism to create iconic works rooted in mythology and literature. Born in Rome to artist parents, his early exposure to Italian Renaissance art profoundly shaped his classical sensibilities. Known as the "Modern Pre-Raphaelite," he masterfully depicted ethereal female figures from Greek myths and literary classics like Tennyson's The Lady of Shalott—a work that epitomizes his ability to translate textual emotion into visual narratives. His paintings, characterized by delicate brushwork, melancholic beauty, and intricate floral symbolism, often explored themes of unattainable love and tragic destiny. Elected Royal Academician in 1895, Waterhouse bridged Victorian romanticism and early modernist experimentation, leaving an enduring legacy in European art history.