She loosed the chain, and down she lay;
The broad stream bore her far away,
The Lady of Shalott."
"The Lady of Shalott" is an 1888 oil painting by John William Waterhouse. It is inspired by Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem of the same name, which in turn is loosely based on the story of Elaine of Astolat.
As the story goes, Elaine is a young noblewoman who lives in a tower. She is cursed to never view the world outside, instead weaving what she sees reflected in a mirror into a tapestry. Upon seeing the noble Sir Lancelot by chance, the curse besets Elaine, and she decides to leave the tower and put herself on a boat en route to Camelot; however, she dies before she arrives. Waterhouse's painting depicts the moment where she loosens the chain to set the boat adrift, with her tapestry draped on the boat around her.
Waterhouse would paint the Lady of Shalott two more times, in 1894 and 1915. The painting is housed at the Tate Britain in London.
Compare The Lady of Shalott (Holman Hunt), a 1905 Pre-Raphaelite painting depicting another part of the story.
The painting contains examples of:
- Color Contrast: The river's dark hues contrast greatly with the lady's Ethereal White Dress, therefore serving to encase her frame and drawing attention to her and her richly-colored tapestry.
- Dying Candle: There are three candles that can be seen on the boat. Two of them have already blown out, symbolizing that her death is nigh.
- Ethereal White Dress: As the legend goes, the Lady is going on this boating trip to her death. Symbolically this is represented by the stark white gown she wears in the painting.
- Fan Art: Inspired by Alfred, Lord Tennyson's The Lady of Shalott, it portrays the moment when Elaine embarks on a boat to Camelot despite knowing she's already doomed.
- Literary Allusion Title: The title is that of a poem (in turn based upon a mythical figure) and provides much of the context for who the woman in the painting is and why she's doing what she's doing.
- Love Martyr: Elaine falls in love with Sir Lancelot by watching his reflection in her tapestry's mirror. Because of her curse, she can only observe him (and the real world) from afar. Her feelings grow so strong, however, that she risks directly glancing at him and then sets out to go to Camelot to see him again even if she knows her curse will kill her.
- Red Is Heroic: The focal figure of the painting, Lady Elaine, is redheaded, and draped over her is a reddish tapestry. The Lady is more of a Tragic Heroine whose heroism stems from her bravery in the face of a fatal curse. Even if she knows she's doomed, she still embarks on a boat and does her damnedest to get to her Love Interest, which is the moment the painting captures.
- Rule of Symbolism:
- The Lady is seen loosening the chain that ties the boat to shore, symbolizing that she was bound her to her curse and tower.
- The last lit candle, the single fallen leaf on her dress, and the crucifix all mean she's close to death.
- Shout-Out: The painting is about one of the Arthurian Legend's characters, Elaine of Astalot. She wasn't that prominent there and most of her characterization in the painting comes from what is essentially a fan poem, but is a reference nonetheless.
- Simple, yet Opulent: The Lady's white dress is laced and has golden embroidery on the sleeves. The laced details are subtle and meant to not stand out. Yet, the texture of the cloth and the golden threads speak of high-quality material.
- Unrequited Tragic Maiden: The Lady cannot have Sir Lancelot, and seeing him in the flesh causes her to die.
- Water Is Womanly: The river's deep, dark blue coloring is metaphorical of the death that awaits the titular lady. Furthermore, the lady is an Unrequited Tragic Maiden who risked being cursed just so she could look at the beautiful man reflected in her mirror.
