This painting by Waterhouse illustrates the poem 'Echo and Narcissus by Ovid.
Echo was a nymph. She was in love with Narcissus but he became so enamoured with his own reflection in a stream that he was fixated by the image, and Echo wasted away through unrequited love, all that remained was the 'echo' of her voice.
To punish Narcissus he was transformed into a flower of the same name by the gods.
Echo and Narcissus
John William Waterhouse 1903
"One year Narcissus, the son of Cephisus, had reached sixteen and might seem both boy and youth.
Many youths, and many young girls desired him. But there was such intense pride in that delicate form that none of the youths or young girls affected him.
One day the nymph Echo saw him, driving frightened deer into his nets, she of the echoing voice, who cannot be silent when others have spoken, nor learn how to speak first herself.
By chance, the boy, separated from his faithful band of followers, had called out "Is anyone here?" and "Here" Echo replied. He is astonished,
and glances everywhere, and shouts in a loud voice "Come to me!"
Flat on the ground, he contemplates two stars, his eyes, and his hair, fit for Bacchus, fit for Apollo, his youthful cheeks and ivory neck, the beauty of his face, the rose-flush mingled in the whiteness of snow, admiring everything for which he is himself admired. Unknowingly he desires himself,"
(Ovid)
