A drawing titled Caractacus secured a three hundred pound prize in an 1843 competition, launching a career that spanned the Victorian era. Though he achieved prominence for his allegorical canvases, George Frederic Watts viewed his work as part of an expansive, universal symbolic cycle he conceptualized as the House of Life, intending to document human aspirations.
Early Influences and Education
Born in 1817 in Marylebone, London, Watts received his initial training under the sculptor William Behnes starting at age ten. He lacked formal education but immersed himself in the study of the Elgin Marbles and the classics. At eighteen, he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Arts, though he found the institution's structure restrictive, preferring to develop his technical abilities through independent experimentation and the rigorous study of ancient Greek statuary.
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The 1843 competition to decorate the new Houses of Parliament proved a turning point for his professional development. Although he produced limited work for the legislative building itself, the prize money facilitated extensive travel to Italy. During this period, he resided at Casa Feroni and Villa Careggi, forming a significant professional association with Henry Fox, the 4th Baron Holland, and drawing inspiration from the frescoes of Giotto and Michelangelo.
Symbolism and the House of Life
Upon returning to Britain, Watts shifted focus toward oil paintings that reflected his broader philosophical ambitions. Notable works from this period include Life's Illusions and The Good Samaritan, the latter donated to Manchester to honor the philanthropist Thomas Wright. His artistic output often focused on allegorical themes, with many pieces intended as studies for his unrealized grand decorative vision, the House of Life.
Later Life and Legacy
For two decades, starting in 1850, he resided at Little Holland House, a hub for the Prinsep circle of artists and social figures. His career evolved to include portraiture and sculpture, while his allegorical works were frequently showcased in Whitechapel through the efforts of social reformer Canon Samuel Barnett. He was eventually honored with the Order of Merit before his death in 1904 in Compton, where he was interred at the Compton Village Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1817, London
- Died: 1904, Compton
- Primary occupations: Painter, sculptor
- Movements: Symbolism, academic art
- Notable work: Hope
- Award: Order of Merit
- Burial site: Compton Village Cemetery
- Education: Royal Academy of Arts
Questions readers ask
What was the House of Life?
It was an ambitious, intended cycle of symbolic paintings designed to represent the universal emotions and aspirations of humanity.
Which artists influenced Watts most?
He drew primary inspiration from ancient Greek sculpture, the Elgin Marbles, Giotto, Michelangelo, and later, the Venetian works of Titian.
Achievements
- Order of Merit
- Notable work: Hope
- Movement: academic art and Symbolism
