J W Waterhouse by Peter Trippi (Phaidon £29.95) (From Gazette & Herald)

J W Waterhouse by Peter Trippi (Phaidon £29.95)

John William Waterhouse came from an artistic Yorkshire family who went to live in Rome.

He returned to Leeds to study his favourite subjects: classical history, literature and mythology, subjects that were to be his inspiration for some of the most arresting paintings of the Victorian era. When we see his famous Lady of Shalott, now in the Tate Gallery, we think of Pre-Raphaelite works, but Waterhouse uses only their type of imagery, his technique is uniquely his own.

He renders mythical subjects with a spirituality and a skilful adaptation of nature, elements that run through his works together with a great sense of composition.

Influenced by both Lawrence Alma-Tadema and Jules Bastien-Lepage, Waterhouse creates his own vision with a technique often using many layers of paint and sometimes working directly on to the canvas, making changes during the progress of work.

Even though today we may not be familiar with some of the legends and histories he depicts, it does not matter. We are transported into a romantic world where we escape and are entertained.

Waterhouse was neglected through most of the 20th century but he is now being appreciated, rightly so, as a major Victorian painter to whom art owes a debt. Peter Trippi spent five years researching this authoritative volume, which contains stunning reproductions of Waterhouse's works. One can feel the author's passion for his subject.

Updated: 13:36 Friday, January 24, 2003