John Reinhard Weguelin (1849
–1927) was an English painter, illustrator, and writer active from 1877 to after 1910. He emulated the neo-classical style of Edward Poynter and Lawrence Alma-Tadema, specializing in figurative paintings with lush backgrounds, often landscapes or garden scenes.
Weguelin depicted scenes from classical antiquity and mythology, emphasizing everyday life in ancient Greece and Rome, and pastoral settings. He also drew inspiration from folklore, creating numerous images of nymphs and mermaids. While his early work was in watercolour, his significant output from 1878 to 1892 consisted of oil paintings. He was noted for his realistic use of light and often presented nude or scantily-clad figures.
His work was exhibited at the Royal Academy and other London galleries, receiving high regard during his career. However, his style fell out of fashion after the First World War, leading to his subsequent obscurity. He is remembered for works such as Lesbia (1878), depicting the muse of the Roman poet Catullus.
