Introduction
His models were always elegantly dressed, slim and pretty. Their pale tones suggested youthfulness and purity. Waterhouse would then theme each portrait in line with mythological stories or more modern poetry. He would also put a lot of effort into decorating his compositions, often with elements of symbolism across the foreground.
Location
This detailed piece arrived in 1891 and is now stored at the Oldham Gallery in Lancashire, UK. It must surely rank as one of the highlights of their collection. Circe, a sorceress from the Odyssey, is used in several Waterhouse paintings and boasts a strong character and attractive aesthetic which makes her ideal for his unique artistic style.
Story
This cunning woman seeks to overpower her opponent by getting him to drink a potion from her cup. The mirror behind her is used to capture Ulysses himself, whilst making sure that she retains the main focus. The pig or boar seen by her feet is believed to have originally been a member of Ulysees' staff who has already fallen foul of her magic.
Description
Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses captures the moment at which Ulysees accepts the cup and drinks the potion inside. Circe holds her arms aloft, as if in celebration of this moment. She is dressed in blue translucent dress of light material, which covers almost all of her body, other than for her toes which appear near the bottom of the composition.
The robe-like style hangs down from one side, and she wears no jewellery. Her hair is also hanging loose, as we witness a woman who is naturally presented. Her throne is decorated with animal heads, possibly lions or even mythical creatures, with claws and wings added to other parts of the design. A pig or boar lies by her side, as well as a number of dead petals on the tiled floor in front.
Behind her is a decorative round mirror which is used by the artist to show portraits of both Circe and Ulysses, even though they would have been facing opposite each other in reality. He would use this clever trick in other paintings and it may have come to his attention when studying the Dutch Golden Age, where domestic scenes and reflective mirrors were common place.
Background on the Artist
John William Waterhouse was a Pre-Raphaelite artist, though appeared towards the end of this movement's impact. He took in their achievements and added other styles to produce a back catalogue of impressive work. The architectural features in this particular painting were inspired by the Italian Renaissance, where as other artists used Gothic styles instead on some occasions. Notable Italian architects and sculptors who may have caught his eye when studying this period of art history include Filippo Brunelleschi, Lorenzo Ghiberti and Donatello.
Large Image of Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses
See below for a larger image of the original painting, Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses. Some of the additional detail that you might notice within this larger image includes more of the reflection behind the main figure, as well as the craved heads on her throne. This artwork remains one of his most famous pieces, and perfectly sums up the signature style used by Waterhouse throughout the majority of his career.
Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses
