The purpose of Lady Shallot a painting by Waterhouse was to illustrate an?

The Lady of Shalott is a painting by John William Waterhouse, completed in 1888. The painting is based on the poem of the same name by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The poem tells the story of a beautiful maiden named Elaine, who is cursed to live on an island in the middle of a river. She can only see the world outside through a mirror, and if she ever sees it directly, she will die.

Waterhouse's painting depicts Elaine sitting in her room on the island. She is looking at a mirror that reflects the outside world. In the background, a young man is riding a horse through the forest. Elaine is in love with the man, but she knows that she can never be with him.

The painting is a beautiful and haunting depiction of unrequited love. It is a reminder that sometimes the things we desire most are the things we can never have.

The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1888. It was well-received by the critics, and it helped to establish Waterhouse as one of the leading painters of the Victorian era.