The Old Water Mill ~ Frederick William Watts

The Old Water Mill

Frederick Waters Watts was an English landscape painter whose work was greatly influenced by Constable.

He lived in Hampstead all his life, like Constable, although Watts was never his pupil and there is no record of them being acquainted, he was familiar with the environment in which the great artist lived and may have had occasion to watch him at work.

Watts often painted outdoors and was particularly interested in depicting locks, water mills and river scenes.

He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1821 to 1860. He also exhibited at the British Institute, the Royal Society of British Artists and the National Watercolour Society.

In 1879, Sir A.G. Temple described Watts’ work as having “the vigour of Constable but with gentler touch”. However, Watts preserved his own distinctive style and colouring. He continued to work thirty years after Constable’s death and his work is now enjoying a well-deserved appreciation.

He has been known as “Frederic William Watts”, “Frederick Waters Watts”, “William Watts” or “William Frederick Watts”.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London have examples of his work.

Provenance: Private collection Isle of Man since purchased in Scotland, in 1960

Gallery Notes: This lovely landscape is not signed, but has been considered a work by the artist over many generations, and is being sold by our gallery as fully attributed to Frederic William Watts