J.W. Waterhouse

 Thanks for this info. Does this mean that the two Waterhouse paintings belonging to the Falmouth Art Gallery are not usually on display (aside from within these exhibitions)?

Hi James,

I went to Falmouth last summer and saw A Bouquet but I had to ask to see - they kindly went to the store room and brought it out for me :) The Lady of Shalott was in the retrospective at the time. I think when they have exhibitions on they're usually removed to make way (it's a rather small gallery).

Kind regards,

Jim

I had the same experience as you Jim when I visited Falmouth probably in 2004 or 2005. The Lady of Shalott was in the north of England at an Arthurian exhibition, and the Bouquet was in the basement but they brought it up when I asked and held it up in front of me :)

The main gallery was filled with stones in a circle in the centre of the floor ("modern art"), and there were works by local artists on the wall. Truro Art Gallery up the road had more of its Victorian art collection on display. Haven't made it to Penzance yet but the gallery there often has great exhibitions.
http://www.royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk/
http://www.penleehouse.org.uk/

Very nice to see The Bouquet on the museum's webpage about their Permanent Collection (though, wish it were on display all the time at the museum). :)

 Thanks for clarifying this. It's incredible that a gallery should have two Waterhouse paintings and yet not have them on permanent display. I appreciate that it is a small gallery but surely these would be a draw for many.

My thoughts exactly, James. I said the same thing to the gallery and they agreed but, for some reason I can't remember (though probably space), they couldn't have it out all the time. I was a bit miffed when I went to the Royal Academy in 2008 to see A Mermaid only to find that it had been taken down for an exhibition as well. Being a big JW fan, they aren't good enough reasons I'm afraid ;)

In 1977 I begged my way into the basement of the Lady Lever to see the Decameron and the Enchanted Garden. I don't think they'd seen light in at least 50 years. I tried to see St. Eulalia at the Tate and it was buried in some remote storage. It was a challenge back then even to find out which museums owned the paintings, let alone had them displayed. I wonder how often many of the paintings are still hidden away much of the time. I think you were lucky they brought the Bouquet out to show you. It's always easier for them to simply say no. I've also been wondering when was the last time a museum purchased a Waterhouse for its permanent collection? Paintings come up fairly frequently but always seem to go into new private collections.

Hi David
As far as I know the Queensland Gallery was the last museum to purchase a Waterhouse, Mystic Wood in 2004 or so.

Unfortunately it was not on display when I visited to see the Picasso exhibition there in 2008 but at the time I did not know they owned it.

Other Waterhouse paintings held in Australian galleries can be quite elusive.

Circe Invidiosa stays on display at Adelaide most of the time and has done ever since purchased. It is a large draw card for the gallery. I remember first seeing it in 1980 in a forest of Victorian art, it was as though the Adelaide Gallery had bought paintings until 1900 and purchased nothing since. I've loved Victorian art ever since. 

Ulysses and the Sirens at the Victorian National Gallery is often loaned, so it is a good idea to make sure it is available before visiting (it is quite normal for schools to borrow the painting). I have the impression it has travelled widely in Victoria.

Diogense is not often loaned and stays on the wall much of the time. It did until the revival of interest in Victorian art spend most of its life in the basement storage area.