I think as others have mentioned the descriptive nature of this poem alone is enough for any artist to want to produce their own image of Tennyson's The Lady Shalott. However, I think that perhaps in addition to alluring artists because of its illustrious quality this poem might also engage artists for its identifiable nature. When I read about the Lady's task of 'weaving' the images in the mirror I imagined a woman weaving a beautiful tapistry much like an artist paints a beautiful picture. I would also think that sitting up in a tower would be rather dull and thus concentrate and dedicate myself completely to my work, consequently I would think the product of her weaving to be a detailed, incomparable piece of art work. Under this line of thinking I would place the Lady of Shalott in the position of the artist creating art. I'm not really sure why Tennyson would choose a woman to be his artist, nor am I sure why he would have her locked up. I guess that begs the question of what the purpose of a tower is. Considering this perhaps it is that in locking away an artist they are shielded from all outside influences and concerns. In part 2 it talks about the 'troop of damsels', the 'abbott', the 'shepard lad' and the knights. None of these things are problematic influences but I thin they represent perhaps the hustle bustle of real life and their ability to distract an artist thus detracting from their work. Perhaps artists have felt the need to paint this poem because they feel a personal connection to it. In some way Lady Shalott is an artist, maybe (and I know this is a stretch so bear with me lol) - but maybe her beauty also turns her into artwork in some sense....? Beauty and art have a considerable connection even thinking back to the idea of 'art of arts sake' (wilde). The last scene of her floating down the river...dead...turns her into an object almost that everyone comes out to see.
On a side note I found Sir Lancelot's last words to be incredibly...well annoying. A beautiful, talented woman, untouched by the outside world who has spent her life locked away in a tower allows her passion for him to overcome the fear of the curse. In return she is changed, maybe not so much by the curse as by the outside world. Yet Lancelots words are trivial, passionless, hollow and quite frankly dumbwitted. Ah well, I've never really appreciated Sir Lancelot much anyway.
