Waterhouse’s gifts were too numerous to count, but two We’ll note here are how he often used intensely rich colours to evoke a mood & also to imbue characters fr/ancient Greek mythology to Arthurian legend w/a mesmeric quality that makes each seem like real people. This is a gorgeous example.
This one in particular haunts me because not only its painterly quality by the brilliance of Waterhouse themself is so good, but also my sense of duality due to Hellenistic mythology corroding over pre-Hellenistic mythology & traditions; especially Goddesses, Priestesses, & Lady Magi of the time.