Sunday, April 3, 2011

Then Was Lancelot Sent For

Here is a link to some less familiar depictions of Elaine of Astolat, also known as, "The Lady of Shalott."
Elaine of Astolat or Ascolat is a figure in Arthurian legend who dies of her unrequited love for Lancelot. Also referred to as Elaine the White and Elaine the Fair, she is the daughter of Bernard of Astolat. Versions of her story appear in Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur and Alfred Tennyson's Idylls of the King. Elaine's story is also the inspiration for Tennyson's poem "The Lady of Shalott."(wikipedia)

And my favorite version by John William Waterhouse

4 comments:

  1. There is so much heartache in that top picture above. Wow. One can feel it by just looking at it. Very cool post.

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  2. Yes, it's a sad story. I love the different artists' interpretations~

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  3. Have you ever heard Loreena McKennitt's musical rendition of Tennyson's poem?

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