Circe Offering the Cup to Odysseus 1891

John William Waterhouse painted Circe Offering the Cup to Odysseus using oil paints on canvas in the late 19th century. Waterhouse would build up layers of paint to create an image that seems almost photographic. He would carefully select pigments, mixing them to achieve the desired colours and tones. The canvas texture peeks through the translucent layers of paint, adding to its visual depth. The ethereal quality of Circe’s gown is achieved by the artist’s expert blending and glazing of the paint. Notice the precise brushstrokes that bring the figures to life, highlighting the artist’s control over the medium. Waterhouse’s academic training emphasized technical mastery and storytelling. But his artistic choices also reflect the Victorian era’s fascination with classical mythology. By focusing on the materials and methods of production, we can see how deeply Waterhouse was embedded in the artistic and cultural traditions of his time, yet added his unique interpretation to the canvas.