SUBMERGING A FANTASY J.W. Waterhouse's Hylas and the Nymphs

Responses to and readings of nude paintings are influenced by contemporary debates on sexual power dynamics. The temporary removal of J.W Waterhouse's 'Hylas and the Nymphs' from display in Manchester Gallery in January 2018 was criticised by commentators and visitors, and framed by the curators of the event as an experiment in reevaluating the Gallery's collections in light of current discussions on gender and sexual exploitation. This article will examine the significance of selecting 'Hylas and the Nymphs' for removal, providing context of the Greek myth the painting depicts and its reception in Victorian Britain, and review the relevance of water nymph iconography and the themes of submergence in water nymph narratives in regard to curation.