To the Royal Academy with Haron, to ogle at their John William Waterhouse exhibition – a collection of ‘erotica masking as serious art’ the likes of which I’ve not seen in a major gallery for many a year.
The paintings clearly made an impression, for two of Waterhouse’s works featured vividly in my dream the following night. In the first, he was dealing with the model seen emerging naked from the river in “A Naiad”:
She’d been well-warned: “Stand still while I paint, girl, or I shall punish you.” A final warning had gone unheeded. “By goodness, young lady, I’m going to teach you a lesson. Fetch the cane from the back of the door, and touch your toes. And be quick about it.” Six sharp strokes had followed, before she was sent to stand motionless once again whilst he continued painting – not daring to reach back to soothe her striped behind.
The same model re-appeared in his studio for another work some months later. Again, I pictured the painting quite clearly I my dream: the young woman, naked, outstretched on her back on a stone floor, her wrists chained above her head to the wall. Another girl, being unable to help her escape, was giving her comfort – lying between her legs and exploring. In the background, unbeknownst to the girls, an officer was approaching, whip in hand, having spied their lewd misconduct.
Only, on waking and remembering the scene oh-so-clearly, I also realised that there had been no such image in the exhibition…
Erm you might want to see your doctor about those hallucinations 😉
Geez, I miss all the good art exhibits! No fair!