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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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...

Read More

PP - GFW

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

Read More

PP - Watts relief

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

Read More

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...

Read More

Physical Energy

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

Read More

PP - 3A - Griffin

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

Read More

PP - 3B - Peart & Dean

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

Read More

PP - 3C - Rogers

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

Read More

Other Subjects

David Cox

David Cox

Landscape painter.  Born near Birmingham. Came to London in 1804 as a theatre scenery painter.  He was a teacher and wrote some influential instruction books.  A very successful water colour painte...

Person, Art

2 memorials
Dave Binnington

Dave Binnington

Mural artist active in 1976.  See Rochfort.

Person, Art

1 memorial
William Ranwell

William Ranwell

Artist. Much of his work is of river scenes in east London, documenting navy shipbuilding, and dock construction. We can't find a picture of him, so have used his painting of the launch of H.M.S. T...

Person, Art

1 memorial
Edward Armitage

Edward Armitage

Painter.  Born Tavistock Square and died Tunbridge Wells.  The picture is a self-portrait. On the Albert Hall frieze Armitage contributed two of the sixteen sections: 'Princes, Art Patrons and Art...

Person, Art

1 memorial
Mary Edwards

Mary Edwards

Artist local to Stockwell.

Person, Art

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Jubilee Gardens - first opening

Jubilee Gardens - first opening

SE1, Belvedere Road, Jubilee Gardens

We photographed this plaque in 2003 in its original location, along with a Braille panel which does seem to be truly lost.

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator