art gallery: gathering flowers — waterhouse’s pre-raphaelite paintings

John William Waterhouse (1849-1917) was an English painter born in Rome, whose parents, William and Isabella, were both painters. The family moved back to London when he was a child, though the setting of Rome would continue to influence his art. Nino (as he was known through his life) pursued art from a young age, and frequently went to the museum nearby to sketch, eventually enrolling in the Royal Academy of Art. He started his successful career with classical themes, before moving to the Pre-Raphaelite style in his later years. He married Esther Kenworthy, another artist, known for her flower paintings, theatrical reviews, and ceramic pieces.