The Sketchbooks

Sketchbooks used by Waterhouse throughout his career were donated to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London by John Physick, great-nephew of the artist, and have now been digitised for online viewing. They can also be viewed in person in the Prints and Drawings Room at the museum.

Two of the sketchbooks were recently included in an exhibition:

Two of John William Waterhouse's sketchbooks

John William Waterhouse
Two sketchbooks in a display cabinet at Falmouth Art Gallery, Cornwall.
Photo: J. Kerr, July 2023

A letter to The Times

The Times, 11th August 2000
Letter to the Editor
Taking Old Masters at face value
Dr John Physick
Sir,
In 1949, I gave to the Victoria and Albert Museum several sketchbooks by my father's uncle, John William Waterhouse (1849-1917). The Keeper of the Print Room, James Laver, told me that they were then practically valueless but in 30 years' time they would be worth a lot of money. He was right. Lord Lloyd-Webber paid Pounds 6.6 million for Waterhouse's St Cecilia at Christie's in June.
Yours faithfully,
JOHN PHYSICK,
August 4.

Links to the seven V&A sketchbooks:

Click the accession number below to view the sketchbook on the V&A website.

E.1-1949

Sketchbook containing studies of buildings in the Near East, trees and foliage, birds, human figures and preliminary sketches for oil paintings including 'Ulysses and the Sirens' exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1891. 56 pages (8 pages missing) of white wove paper bound in canvas boards.

E.2-1949

Sketchbook containing studies of rocks, trees, flowers and foliage, church furniture, figure subjects etc., and sketches for oil paintings exhibited at the Royal Academy, including 'The Crystal Ball' (1902), 'Windflowers' (1903), 'Psyche opening the door of Cupid's garden' (1904), 'Isabella' (1907), 'Medea and Jason' (1907) and 'Phyllis and Demophoon' (1907). Also sketches for a 'Belle Dame sans Merci' subject similar to that exhibited in 1893 and for a version of 'The Lady of Shalott' seated at her loom. 92 pages of white wove paper bound in canvas boards; attached in the sketch-book are a letter to the artist from Morris Harding dated 27 July 1914 on which is a pencil sketch of a kid, and a smaller piece of paper with a slight pencil sketch of a similar animal.

E.3-1949

Sketchbook containing studies of trees and foliage, human figures, landscape, etc., and preliminary studies for oil paintings exhibited at the Royal Academy including 'Phyllis and Demophoon' (1907) and 'Apollo and Daphne' (1908); also sketches possibly intended for 'Tristram and Isolde' (1917). 60 pages of white wove paper bound in canvas boards. At the back of the sketchbook is attached a printed invitation to the artist to attend the annual Council dinner at the Royal Academy, dated 15 December 1901, on which are drawn several pencil sketches for 'Apollo and Daphne'.

E.1109-1963

Sketchbook containing studies of heads, some after antique sculpture, figures subjects and sketches of Greek architecture etc., copied from book illustrations. 62 pages (one missing) of white wove Whatman paper watermarked 1872, quarter-bound in leather, canvas boards, with a pencil holder.

E.1111-1963

Sketchbook containing preliminary drawings. 74 pages (one torn) of white wove paper, bound in canvas boards with a pencil holder. Sketchbook by J. W. Waterhouse containing preliminary drawings for oil paintings, including 'The Awakening of Adonis' (1899), 'Echo and Narcissus' (1903), 'The Danaides' (1906) and 'Isabella' (1907) etc.

E.1110-1963

Sketchbook containing preliminary drawings. 68 pages (others missing) of white wove paper, bound in canvas boards, with a pencil holder. Contains preliminary drawings for oil paintings including two versions of 'The Lady of Shalott' (1888 and 1894), and 'Ulysses and the Sirens' (1891). Also preliminary drawings for 'Circe offering the Cup to Ulysses' (1891). 68 pages (others missing) of white wove paper, bound in canvas boards, with a pencil holder.

E.1112-1963

Sketchbook containing studies of trees, figure subjects, landscapes etc. 50 pages (2 torn, 1 sheet inserted) of white wove paper, bound in canvas boards, with a pencil holder. Contains studies of trees, figure subjects, landscapes, including sketches for the oil paintings 'The Decameron' (1916) and 'The Enchanted Garden' (1917). Dated 1912-1915.

Browse sketches

The sketches below come from a Waterhouse sketchbook formerly in the Dr. John Physick collection. These sketches, and others from the same sketchbook, were offered for sale at Christie's on 17th November 2005.