The Lady of Shalott by Atkinson Grimshaw. Oil on canvas.
According to the author of the Sotheby's catalogue entry on the artist's Elaine,
Atkinson Grimshaw greatly loved the poetry of Lord Tennyson, and was much inspired by it. In the 1870's, besides this highly romantic picture of "Elaine", he painted at least two versions of the Lady of Shalott. The stories are analogues, and both describe the the death of fair maidens, who died for love of Sir Lancelot, and whose bodies float down the river to the place of Camelot. . . . In 1876 Grimshaw built a turreted folly overlooking the two bays of Scarborough; he proudly called it "Castle by the Sea", and proclaimed its name in a large plaque over the front door. Here he painted "The Lady of Shalott", and here, the following year, were born his twin children who he christened The Lady of Shalott and Lancelot. [p. 32]
Last modified 28 October 2004