G.F. Watts: Italy

"Edith Villiers, later Countess of Lytton"
by G.F. Watts

"As George Frederic Watts described his early life to me, he talked of his stay in Italy while the guest of Lord and Lady Holland, which came about in this wise. He had been given a letter of introduction to Lord Holland, but being absorbed in the wonders of art in beautiful Florence, had not thought to present it till the day before he intended to leave. Upon doing so, Lord Holland asked him to dinner, and this resulted in his remaining as Lord Holland's guest for four years. He became as one of the family.

He met those whose work was linked with the important interests of the world. He felt an echo in his own nature to those larger views which are developed by important responsibilities, living the while in that gracious Italy whose buildings, paintings, sculptures all still are evidences that the culture of beauty in olden days held a place in the governing of the country and in grave matters of State; that the influence of the Arts was ever present to lend a grace to the action of all classes. His own aims were encouraged and strengthened, and his ambition kindled, to place the art of his country on the same level which was claimed for her in the truly greatest civilizations.

In the great art of Italy he found better teachers than any he had had. Italian art awoke the fervour, the feeling for grace and distinction latent in his nature. It was Titian's painting which inspired his greatest admiration. He told me he was always seeing 'Titian in nature.' One evening as we were standing on the lawn in his garden at Little Holland House and the warm light of late afternoon was weaving threads of glowing gold through the branches of a group of thorn trees, I remember Watts exclaimed, 'There, is that not Titian?"

The paintings done in Italy, and during the first years after his return, evinced Watts' natural love of brilliant colour and his exceptional power of drawing, but hardly his own nature and temperament.While staying with the Hollands he drew and painted many pictures of their friends. Even in those where the work in pencil was generally small and delicate, a sense of style and size is to be traced. But neither the paintings nor the drawings, nor the work he sent home for competition for the prizes offered by the Royal Commission, showed the full genius of his individuality. The aims and serious intentions he wished to carry out in his work necessitated the independence and the solitude which he could only fully command if he lived alone."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "G.F. Watts: Reminiscences," 1906, by Mrs. Russell Barrington.)