The Lady of Shalott

The Lady of Shalott

The final scene from Alfred Tennyson's poem "The Lady of Shallot"

This painting is a realisation of the tragic scene which concludes Alfred Tennyson’s poem The Lady of Shalott. Having defied the terms of her confinement, the heroine sets sail for Camelot and certain death. The picture may also have been intended as a tribute to Millais’s Ophelia, with broad impressionist brushwork replacing the precise treatment of the earlier Pre-Raphaelite work. Draped over the boat is the tapestry the Lady wove during her imprisonment. Beside it are three candles, often used to symbolise life. Two have blown out suggesting that her life will end soon, as she floats down the river.

John William Waterhouse

Part of the Henry Tate Collection

1888

"The Lady of Shallot" by Lord Alfred Tennyson

Oil on Canvas Support: 1530 x 2000 mm
frame: 2000 x 2460 x 230 mm