Studio Nouveau: Art Inspirations:"The Lady of Shallot"

RT (n.) Human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature. The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium. The study of these activities. The product of these activities; human works of beauty considered as a group. High quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty; aesthetic value. A field or category of art, such as music, ballet, or literature. A trade or craft that applies such a system of principles and methods: the art of the lexicographer. Printing. Illustrative material (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). The media file below was created for an instructor of Humanities and English.

Willows whiten, aspens quiver,
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Through the wave that runs for ever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to Camelot.
Four grey walls, and four grey towers,
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shallot." Tennyson, 1842

Gif Image: Drop Cap Letter "T"
HE LADY OF SHALOTT remains in her castle, cursed, where she weaves the images she sees outside her tower window into a tapestry, using its reflection a mirror. As a result of the curse, she is forbidden to gaze upon the external world from her window. According to the legend, the lonesome sound of her singing was heard by those near the island where she resides; however, she was never seen by others.

Upon viewing Lancelot in the mirror as he enters Camelot, the lady cannot restrain herself and looks outside her window. The mirror shatters. The Lady of Shallot then leaves her tower, seeking the stately knight's love. She floats the river to Camelot, after having added her name to its bow. After her boat floats to shore, Lancelot gazes upon this stranger, a beautiful, but cursed woman, who pursued her love for the knight, knowing it would kill her. John William Waterhouse (a renowned nineteenth-century Preraphaelite artist) completed three separate paintings of "The Lady of Shalott. Alfred Lord Tennyson's "Lady of Shallot" (text is provided below) is considered among the finest examples of Victorian poetry. Studio Nouveau offers creative approaches to web design and development that draw upon the attention to color, symmetry, form, and texture found in great works of art. The above FLASH rendition of Tennyson's Lady of Shallot, for example, reflects the possibilities that abound when art and technology meet. Those who may be creating a specific theme site, such as Medieval, Arthurian, etc., will find their vision welcome at Studio Nouveau.

Source: Above video file is for your personal viewing enjoyment and is not for sale. Image: "The Lady of Shallot (On Boat)." John William Waterhouse, Tate Gallery, London. Introductory text: Excerpt, The Lady of Shallot, (Verse 2). Tennyson, 1842. "Art." Webster Online Dictionary http://www.m-w.com/dictionary.htm). Decorative logo letters and scroll images (right) incorporated from "The Roman Manuscript," copyright AlfredoM, a 2 CD Collection of web graphics. http://www.alfredom.com

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