John William Waterhouse’s 1896 painting depicting Pandora is titled Pandora.
The oil painting shows the mythological figure seated beside or holding the ornate container associated with the story. Waterhouse was a British painter closely connected with the Pre-Raphaelite tradition and known for scenes drawn from mythology, literature, and dramatic historical themes.
Waterhouse’s Pandora belongs to the late Victorian fascination with classical subjects and psychologically charged female figures. The painting does not simply illustrate the earliest Greek text; it reflects nineteenth-century artistic interests in beauty, danger, curiosity, and the consequences of opening the vessel.
The title can cause confusion because several artists produced works called Pandora. Dante Gabriel Rossetti also painted Pandora in the nineteenth century, so identifying the artist is essential when distinguishing Waterhouse’s version.