The Lady of Shalott by Waterhouse: Tennyson’s Cursed Lady

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From Tennyson’s poem

In Alfred Tennyson’s poem The Lady of Shalott, a lady lives under a curse in a tower near Camelot. She may only see the world in a mirror. When she looks directly at Sir Lancelot, the curse falls on her. She leaves in a boat, singing, and drifts towards Camelot, dying on the way.

John William Waterhouse painted this scene in 1888. It belongs to Tate Britain in London.

Her last song

Red-haired woman singing with parted lips — Her last song.

The lady sits in the boat, her long red hair falling over a white dress. Her mouth is slightly open, singing, and her eyes are fixed on the distance. Her face expresses both resignation and fear.

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The Lady of Shalott hand-painted oil reproduction

The Lady of Shalott, painted by hand

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Letting go of the chain

Hand holding the mooring chain — Letting go of the chain.

She holds the chain that moored the boat, about to release it. This is the moment she gives herself to her fate.

Candles and her tapestry

Three candles at the bow, two guttering, and a crucifix — Candles going out.

At the bow, three candles burn, two already guttering. In Christian imagery candles often stand for life; their dying flames suggest her end is near. A crucifix lies before them.

Woven tapestry hanging over the side of the boat — Her woven tapestry.

Over the side of the boat hangs the tapestry she wove in her tower, showing scenes she saw in her mirror.

Questions about The Lady of Shalott

What story does it show?

The lady from Tennyson’s poem leaving her tower in a boat after the curse falls on her.

Where is it?

Tate Britain, London.

What do the candles mean?

Two of the three are going out, suggesting that her life is ending.

How large is it?

About 153 × 200 centimetres, oil on canvas.

Arthurian legend returns, with a darker enchantress, in Burne-Jones's The Beguiling of Merlin. Camelot's darker side is Sandys's Morgan le Fay.

Sources and image credit

Public-domain reproduction of The Lady of Shalott (1888), via Wikimedia Commons (Google Art Project). Detail images are crops of the same historical painting; no reconstruction or upscaling.