Tristram and Isolde - John William Waterhouse
Archival giclée
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Description
This painting by John William Waterhouse depicts the tragic lovers Tristram and Isolde on board a ship. The scene captures the moment they share a fateful drink, setting in motion their ill-fated romance.
John William Waterhouse, an English painter known for his depictions of women in classical and mythological settings, created this painting of Tristram and Isolde. The tragic romance of Tristram (also known as Tristan) and Isolde (also known as Iseult) has been retold in many variations since the 12th century. The pair fall in love after accidentally drinking a love potion that was intended for Isolde and King Mark of Cornwall, whom she was to marry. Their illicit love affair ends in tragedy. In Waterhouse's painting, Tristram, clad in shining armour, offers Isolde a cup. She looks at him with a mixture of apprehension and longing. They stand on a ship, with the sea and a distant castle visible through the ship's structure. The colour palette is dominated by muted tones, with touches of red and gold. The artist's attention to detail is evident in the rendering of the armour and the flowing drapery of Isolde's gown.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. EU customers have a 14-day cooling-off right. See our refunds page for full details.
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Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Tristram and Isolde - John William Waterhouse
Our Features
Designed for Lasting Impact
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Choose poster, framed print, canvas or framed canvas
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
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
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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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