Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May (1908), by J.W. Waterhouse The title is drawn from a famous poem wri

Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May (1908), by J.W. Waterhouse The title is drawn from a famous poem written in1648 by Robert Herrick (see below for the complete version).  It describes the need to live in the moment(carpe diem) because life is short and beauty is only temporary.  This theme fits well with Waterhouse’s other works,but it should also be seen in the time when this was painted because in thesame year there was a big demonstration in Manchester by the Women’s Social andPolitical Union to call for equal rights for women. There are no records about Waterhouse’spolitical opinions, but the association of female beauty with flowers wascertainly something that the suffragettes did not approve of.Waterhouse gave the same name to another picturethat he painted one year later.  It ishowever very different in composition, so it will be presented separately.Apologiesfor the silent period, but I will try to resume this blog more frequently inthe new year.To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time (by R. Herrick, 1648)Gather ye Rose-buds while ye may,    OldTime is still a-flying:And this same flower that smiles today,    Tomorrowwill be dying.The glorious Lamp of Heaven, the Sun,    Thehigher he’s a getting;The sooner will his Race be run,    And nearerhe’s to Setting.That Age is best, which is the first,    WhenYouth and Blood are warmer;But being spent, the worse, and worst    Times,still succeed the former.Then be not coy, but use your time;    Andwhile ye may, go marry:For having lost but once your prime,    Youmay forever tarry. -- source link

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