Hope, by George Frederick Watts

artist | George Frederick Watts

lived | 1817-1904

period | Victorian

biography | the artist at a glance

Artist George Frederick Watts is a compelling figure from the Nineteenth century. He was an original artist who followed his own personal muse, and while he had much in common with his contemporaries, his work stands out from other Victorian painters. From his remarkable portraits, to his classically inspired paintings, to the allegories he created in later life, Watts contributed significantly to the history of art during the rich and varied Victorian period.

George Frederick Watts was born in London, England, in 1817. During the 1840s, he traveled to France and Italy, and the art of these countries was to have a profound and lasting influence on the young man. For it was at this time that Watts developed an interest in the work of Michelangelo. Indeed, his admiration for the great Italian Renaissance artist is evident in many of his paintings and works of sculpture. And while Watts idolized Michelangelo, he also appreciated many contemporary English artists. His friends included several members of the influential Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, as well as that other titan of Victorian art - Lord Leighton. It is worth noting that the long and fruitful friendship between Watts and Leighton resulted in many shared artistic interests, including a passion for classical subjects. And it is through such classical paintings as Thetis, Ariadne on Naxos, and Orpheus and Eurydice that Watts left his mark on art history.