George Frederic Watts

George Frederic Watts RA ( born February 23, 1817 in London, † June 1, 1904 in Compton, Surrey ) was a painter and sculptor in Victorian England. His pictorial work includes large frescoes and historical paintings and allegorical and mythological representations; significant Watts was as a portraitist of prominent contemporaries. As a sculptor, he is known for his neoclassical sculptures.

Life and work

Watts turned to in his youth of historical painting was, in later years, but primarily as a portrait painter active. For the portrait titled "Choosing " stood him his then wife Ellen Terry model. He had married the 17- year-old actress at the age of 47 years, but the marriage did not even think one year. Other personalities were portrayed by him, the poet Alfred Tennyson, the philosopher John Stuart Mill, the Premier William Ewart Gladstone, and the writer and painter John Ruskin. Most of the many portraits are now in London's National Portrait Gallery and Watts, laying the foundation for their collection.

Among the most notable historical pictures and paintings mythological and allegorical content of the 1843 Westminster Palace running, award-winning design Caractus heard is led in chains through the city of Rome. From 1843 to 1847 Watts held up in Italy and studied especially the Venetian masters of the 16th century there. After that he lived back in London, where he once again calls in 1847 with his image Alfred the Great to the Saxons, to face the Danes to a naval battle won a first prize. In the years 1853-1859 the Fresco was the justice in Lincoln 's Inn. Other works created in Watts townhouse of Manchester ( The Good Samaritan ) and the poet hall of the Parliament building ( St. George, the dragon auflauernd ). Furthermore, are worth mentioning: Thetis, Paolo and Francesca da Rimini, Ariadne and love and life. His compositions and be influenced by Italian old masters style brought Watts called the " British painter-poet " a.

In the Middle Ages Watts renewed its made ​​in youth and in Italy in the field of plastic experience. Thus arose in 1867 the bust Clytia and a little later the executed together with the sculptor Joseph Edgar Boehm seated figure of Henry Vassall -Fox, 3rd Baron Holland, father of his patron Henry Edward Fox, 4th Baron Holland. In 1870 he began the equestrian statue of Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster, which he completed in 1881. His repeatedly executed composition Physical Energy was set up after his death in Kensington Gardens.

1867 Watts was elected extraordinary and soon a full member of the Royal Academy of Arts. Later, he was accepted into the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. In 1898 he was a founding member of the Pastel Society. The fact that he was 85 years old the only artist to the members of the Order of Merit, founded in 1902, clearly emphasizes the great importance which was awarded a lifetime. His legacy left the philanthropist Watts the state; his house in Compton is now a museum.

The British composer Charles Villiers Stanford wrote his Sixth Symphony " In Memoriam GF Watts". The work was begun in 1905 and premiered on January 18, 1906 in London Stanfords line. Although the symphony is not a program based on the four sets of works of art are Watts ' inspired.

Gallery

Sir Galahad

Portrait of George Meredith

Physical Energy

The Good Samaritan

Hope