The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse.

Painting

The Lady of Shalott

The Lady of Shalott

The Lady of Shalott

John William Waterhouse

John William Waterhouse

About the artwork

The Lady leaves her tower and drifts downriver in a boat, knowing the act seals her fate. The tapestry, chain, candles, and crucifix suggest art, captivity, sacrifice, and the cost of choosing life beyond a curse. Waterhouse turns Tennyson’s poem into an image of tragic freedom.

ARTWORK DETAILS

1888

Pre-Raphaelite

Tate Britain

London

John William Waterhouse / Tate Britain