jw-waterhouse: The Household Gods (ca.1880), by J.W. Waterhouse Another work of Waterhouse in which
jw-waterhouse: The Household Gods (ca.1880), by J.W. Waterhouse Another work of Waterhouse in which he reconstructs everyday life in the classical era (read: Pompeii). The fresco of musicians in the background of the painting is particularly lively and draws the attention. This makes the scene in the foreground with two girls honoring Roman gods in the form of bronze statuettes even more intimate. The standing girl seems to be elsewhere with her thoughts, while her sister pays her respects to the gods. This can be considered the main strength of Waterhouse’s early works: the paintings seem to portray an everyday scene, but they provide the observer with several clues that allow him/her to create his/her own story. The present-day popularity – also here on Tumblr – must to a large degree be attributed to this sensation. -- source link