Lamia and the Soldier 1905

John William Waterhouse’s 1905 painting “Lamia and the Soldier” depicts a captivating scene from Keats’s poem. The seductive Lamia, a serpent-woman, enchants a young soldier with her beauty, her alluring gaze and graceful form contrasting with the soldier’s armor and hardened gaze. The forest setting adds to the atmosphere of mystery and intrigue, with the soldier’s vulnerability creating a powerful sense of tension and foreshadowing the tragic consequences of love and desire. Waterhouse's use of soft colors and detail further enhances the emotional impact, illustrating the Pre-Raphaelite style of art, characterized by its realistic depiction of nature and emphasis on symbolism.