An Unknown Gentleman

AttributedAttributed to William Stewart Watson (Edinburgh, Scotland, 1800 - 1870)

AttributedAttributed to William Watson (London, England, active 1828 - 1866)

Mediumoil on ivory miniature

ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings

DimensionsOverall: Height: 12.2 cm, Width: 9.9 cm

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG004575

Keywords

Portrait

About MeThis miniature could have been painted by William Watson who entered the Royal Academy Schools in December 1828, aged nineteen and exhibited at the Academy annually until his death. His work is reminiscent of that of Sir William Ross, whose miniatures he was sometimes employed to copy. In 1854 he was commissioned by Queen Victoria to paint a portrait miniature of her eighth son, Prince Leopold, who was eleven months old at the time.

There is another artist with the same name, however, (William Stewart Watson, 1800-1870) who was said to have practiced for some years in America, was in Rome in 1840 and in London between 1843 and 1847, after which he settled in Edinburgh where he remained for the rest of his life. His favourite subjects were portraits and history paintings but as well as oil he used ink, watercolour, chalk and charcoal and was also known as a miniature painter.

Yet another William Watson is listed as a miniature painter, with an address at 30 Castle Street, Edinburgh, in the minutes of the Phrenological Society, which he joined on 26 March 1820.