Jason and Medea - John William Waterhouse
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Description
A 1907 oil painting by John William Waterhouse depicting the sorceress Medea preparing a potion for the hero Jason.
John William Waterhouse painted Jason and Medea in 1907, drawing upon the classical Greek myth of the Argonauts. The scene depicts the moment Medea prepares a magic potion for Jason to use in his quest for the Golden Fleece. Medea, the sorceress daughter of King Aeetes, is shown in a crimson robe, pouring a liquid from a small vial into a golden chalice. Jason sits opposite her, clad in armour and holding a spear, his posture suggesting a mix of anticipation and reliance on her supernatural aid.
Waterhouse employs a muted, earthy palette, punctuated by the deep red of Medea's garment. The composition is structured around the two figures, who are positioned on a stone bench within a dark, wooded setting. A small tripod brazier stands to the left, emitting a faint wisp of smoke, which adds a sense of ritual to the encounter. The artist focuses on the psychological tension between the characters, rather than the heroic action typically associated with the myth. Medea's expression is one of intense concentration, while Jason appears as a passive recipient of her power.
This work reflects the artist's interest in classical literature and the portrayal of powerful female figures. Waterhouse was known for his ability to blend academic painting techniques with the romantic sensibilities of the late Victorian era. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The attention to detail in the drapery, the metallic sheen of the armour, and the subtle interplay of light and shadow demonstrate the technical skill characteristic of his later period. The work remains a notable example of his approach to narrative painting, where the focus is placed on a quiet, domestic moment within a larger epic framework.
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Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Jason and Medea - John William Waterhouse
Artist Biography
John William Waterhouse
He was born in Rome to English parents (both painters) and grew up surrounded by Italian art before moving to London as a child. He studied at the Royal Academy Schools and exhibited there from 1874 until his death in 1917. He was a Royal Academician, successful, respected, and thoroughly Victorian.
His technique is Pre-Raphaelite in spirit but Impressionist in handling. The early works are tighter, more archaeological, influenced by Alma-Tadema's classical scenes. The later paintings are looser, with broader brushwork and richer colour. The Lady of Shalott (1888) combines both: precise detail in the boat and tapestry, atmospheric softness in the trees and water.
He painted several versions of the same subjects. Two versions of The Lady of Shalott. Two of Ophelia. Multiple paintings of Circe. He returned to the same stories because the stories gave him what he needed: a beautiful woman in a dramatic landscape at a moment of transformation. The formula was reliable and the execution was consistently good.
He is sometimes grouped with the Pre-Raphaelites but was a generation younger than Rossetti, Millais, and Hunt. He was closer to the Aesthetic Movement and to late Victorian narrative painting. He is one of the most reproduced painters in the history of art prints, which would have pleased him.
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