Nymph (sketch for the Nymphs finding the head of Orpheus)

This compositional sketch for the nymph who appears in the larger Nymphs Finding the Head of Orpheus, also from 1900, reveals Waterhouse's methodical working process. Rather than composing directly on the large canvas, he developed figure studies — focusing on posture, expression, and the relationship of a single figure to the overall composition — before integrating them into the finished work. The sketch is a study for a specific figure, likely the most prominent of the nymphs, and shows Waterhouse's attention to gesture and expression even at the preparatory stage. The work's private ownership places it outside the museum holdings that contain his finished compositions.

As a compositional sketch, the work is more loosely handled than Waterhouse's exhibition pieces. The figure is established through confident drawing rather than the layered paint of his finished canvases. Form is indicated economically, with the emphasis on capturing the essential gesture and position of the nymph within the larger composition.