George Frederic Watts

1 portrait of George Frederic Watts

© The Estate of Edward Steichen/ARS, NY and DACS, London 2021

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George Frederic Watts

by Edward Steichen
photogravure, 1900
8 1/2 in. x 6 5/8 in. (215 mm x 167 mm)
Purchased, 1981
Primary Collection
NPG P168

Sitterback to top

  • George Frederic Watts (1817-1904), Painter and sculptor; Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. Sitter in 43 portraits, Artist or producer associated with 93 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Edward Steichen (1879-1973), Photographer. Artist or producer of 8 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Born in Luxembourg but brought up in the American Midwest, Steichen became one of the greatest photographers of all time. This photograph of Watts was taken during his first visit to Europe in 1900 and 1901 and was part of a set of portraits that Steichen discussed in terms similar to Watts's 'Hall of Fame': 'My “Great Men” series', he told a journalist in 1902,' includes portraits of Rodin, Maeterlinck, George Frederic Watts, the eminent English artist, Zengwill [and] Lembach, the great German portrait artist'.

Linked publicationsback to top

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Subject/Themeback to top

Events of 1900back to top

Current affairs

The Conservatives return to power, after the Prime Minister Lord Salisbury calls a general election, known as the 'Khaki election', on the back of huge jingoistic support for the Boer War.
The Labour Representation Committee (LRC) is founded from a coalition of socialist groups; they win two seats in the 1900 election and Ramsay Macdonald is appointed secretary. The Labour politician Keir Hardie is also returned to Parliament for Merthyr Tydfilin Wales.

Art and science

German physicist Max Planck proposes the concept of the quantum theory. Sigmund Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams is published. In the text, Freud outlines his theory of dream analysis, crucial to the study of the unconscious, and introduces key concepts in psychoanalysis, such as the Ego.
The Paris International Exhibition, attended by more than 50 million people and including over 76,000 exhibitors, marks the heyday of Art Nouveau.

International

In China the Boxer rebellion takes place. The Boxers were anti-imperialist and against foreign influence in trade, religion, politics and technology in the final years of the Manchu rule. The Boxers invade Beijing, killing 230 foreigners and Chinese Christians. The rebellion is suppressed by a multinational coalition of 20,000 troops, with China being forced to pay large war reparations, contributing to growing nationalist resentment against the Qing dynasty.

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