Framed Watts Prints

W. Watts (Born 1800) lived in London (Hampstead) for much of his life and painted landscapes, on site, all over Britain. He preferred to paint river scenes and was strongly influenced by Constable John. Watts mainly exhibited at the British Institute from 1823 and 1862, and from 1821 to 1860, he exhibited at New Watercolor Society, Suffolk Street and the Royal Academy. There appears to be some improbability over the year of his death with some people saying he died in 1860 while others say he died in 1870. However, what is known is that he died out of complications caused by diabetes at his home in Hampstead. Watts was a renowned landscape painter who lived at the same time as Constable, the artist who had great influence in his work. Although Watts closely imitated many of the elements that were found in Constable’s style, he preserved his own unique style and coloring. Watts sent his first works through Hampstead for exhibition at the Royal Academy. Actually, these were the first serious work by Watts and they were among the 76 paintings he exhibited at the Royal Academy, which, together with the 108 that he exhibited at the British Institute and the 65 he exhibited in Suffolk Street indicate that he was a very creative artist indeed. After his death and even during his own lifetime, his reputation was shadowed by that of Constable, but his work is now enjoying a well-merited revival, and framed W. Watts art are highly priced by many collectors.