Person    | Male  Born 23/2/1817  Died 1/7/1904

G. F. Watts

Categories: Art, Sculpture

Born in London. His piano-making father named him after Handel.

Member of the Holland Park Circle, an informal group of 19th-century artists based in the Holland Park district, especially in Melbury Road and Holland Park Road. Other key members include: Frederic Leighton, Valentine Prinsep, Luke Fildes, Hamo Thornycroft and William Burges.

Married briefly to Ellen Terry, many years his junior. 1886 married Mary Tytler.  Watts was a leading supporter of the campaign against the use of birds' plumage in fashionable hats, a campaign which led to the creation of the Society for the Protection of Birds. Watts had a gallery built near Guildford for his work, which he opened in 1903. It is open to the public and still displays just his work, which we found of questionable quality. Much more interesting is the chapel, a short walk away, built by his wife, Mary, 1898-1904, well worth a visit.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
G. F. Watts

Commemorated ati

G. F. Watts - W14

In April 2024 this plaque was revealed as one of the items held in English He...

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PP - GFW

We can find no maker, nor date for the erection of this memorial, but its pos...

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PP - Watts relief

This looks as if it's carved wood but Bonhams says it's probably painted cera...

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
G. F. Watts

Creations i

Lord Holland statue

Yet anonther lazy London statue - see Peabody for our log of all the seated s...

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Physical Energy

{On a plaque laid into the ground in front of the statue:} George Frederic Wa...

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PP - 3A - Griffin

Thomas Griffin, fitters labourer, April 12, 1899, in a boiler explosion at a ...

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PP - 3B - Peart & Dean

The “fireman” on a steam train was the man who stoked the engine. You’ve seen...

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PP - 3C - Rogers

The Stella was a passenger ferry in service with the London and South Western...

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