Set Project Research: The Lady of Shallot
This painting was introduced to me by our tutor Mr Sam Dargan. It is not as relevant to my theme but I wanted to do a mini research just to learn about it and also I really liked the vibe it gives off which is etherial but dark as well.
And down the river’s dim expanse
Like some bold seer in a trance,
Seeing all his own mischance –
With glassy countenance
Did she look to Camelot.
And at the closing of the day
She loosed the chain, and down she lay;
The broad stream bore her far away,
The Lady of Shalott.
Like some bold seer in a trance,
Seeing all his own mischance –
With glassy countenance
Did she look to Camelot.
And at the closing of the day
She loosed the chain, and down she lay;
The broad stream bore her far away,
The Lady of Shalott.
The poem is about a woman who has a curse laid upon her and lives in a tower by herself on an island called Shallot hence the name. The tower is near the Castle of King Arthurs as they flow on the same river. Her curse began when she could not look at the outside world but only through a reflection in the mirror, until one day she looked at the mirror directly causing it to crack as she saw a handsome young man and the curse was laid upon her. Due to her action her punishment was to flow on the boat and sing a song but sadly she died before reaching Camelot. The actions of the woman in the painting shows her letting go of the boats chain, I believe in order to flow down the river, and her staring at a crucifix of three candles. It is based on the pre-raphaelites and the natural background has never been identified.
My opinion of this painting is that it gives off a fresh etherial essence with hints of calmness but also fear. I chose this as this is my opinion of how fallen angels really feel. What I mean by that is that The lady of Shallot made a mistake out of her purity but was punished immediately as it her action was considered a sin, just like angels before they become fallen angels. This is also a representation of people in society as usually people which are considered outcasts tend to be punished for every little mistake unlike the King for example who lived on the same river as her, in real life politicians. Overall I enjoyed talking about this piece and expressing my opinion as I believe it is something beautiful. Additionally, fashion wise I like the minimalism and how irregular her gown is which gives off Spring Vibes but her hair bohemian vibes.
Bibliography:
Tate (n.d.) ‘The Lady of Shalott’, John William Waterhouse, 1888 [online] Available at: <https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/waterhouse-the-lady-of-shalott-n01543> [Accessed 21 April 2021]
The story has an element of the fallen angel about it - she does something she 'shouldn't' have and is expelled, to all purposes. This is interesting backup research, because it demonstrates that you look beyond the confines of your subject area and find stories/images that can support your overall idea.
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