jw-waterhouse: Consulting the Oracle (1884), by J.W. WaterhouseThe above painting shows a Jewish pri
jw-waterhouse: Consulting the Oracle (1884), by J.W. WaterhouseThe above painting shows a Jewish priestess commanding attention from a group of women for the prophecy from a sculptured head, which is difficult to see near the left edge of the painting. The women react astonished and are totally absorbed into the scene. As a witness the observer may feel ashamed to experience their emotion without being noticed. In other words, the scene is very theatrical and this characterizes many of the future works of Waterhouse. It was sold for UK£ 900 to an industrial magnate.The year before, Waterhouse had married Esther Kenworthy, the daughter of a professor in perspective and landscape drawing. Although very little is known about their marriage, it is known that they did not have any children and stayed together until his death. -- source link
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