John William Waterhouse (1849-1917) was a British painter and one of the most popular artists in his day. He is best known for his mythological subject matter, often using a languid but imposing female as the focus. Waterhouse began his career as a student of Pre-Raphaelite painters at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, developing an interest in British history and heraldry. He went on to paint more than 800 canvases over his career, including many portraits and murals in addition to his mythological scenes. Waterhouse was born in Rome in 1849 and immigrated to London at age 5. His parents were both painters, so he was introduced to the art of painting at an early age. By 1874 Waterhouse had committed himself fully to a career as a professional painter. Early works by Waterhouse were produced in an academic style, with influences of Lawrence Alma-Tadema and Frederic Leighton evident. As his artistic style matured, Waterhouse began to be recognized as another Pre-Raphaelite artist, but with a more classical approach that focused on themes from Greek mythology and popular fiction like the Arthurian legends.