“The Missal” is a painting crafted in 1902 by the esteemed artist John William Waterhouse. Rendered using oil on canvas, this artwork is a striking example of the Romanticism movement and falls within the genre of religious painting.
The artwork depicts a serene indoor scene featuring a young woman immersed in reading a missal, a type of religious book used in Catholic liturgy. She is portrayed in a graceful posture, kneeling beside a wooden bench with her attention fully dedicated to the pages before her. She is adorned in a white dress with a crimson undergarment visible at the sleeves, suggesting both purity and devotion. The background reveals a well-lit room with arched windows through which lush greenery is visible, infusing the scene with tranquility. A nearby table, draped with a decorative cloth, holds a vase with white flowers, adding an additional element of quiet elegance to the composition. The light streaming through the windows illuminates the woman, enhancing the overall aura of ethereal sanctity that envelops the piece.