George Frederic Watts, Florence Nightingale, 1868

Paintings
A half finished bust portrait of Florence Nightingale

G F Watts, Florence Nightingale, 1868, oil on canvas

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) was a nurse who became a national hero. She was known as the ‘Lady with the Lamp’ because of her care of soldiers during the Crimean War against Russia (1853-86).

George Frederic Watts met Nightingale in Southampton in the 1860s. It is not known for sure why the portrait was never finished. Nightingale disliked having her portrait taken, so it is possible that she refused to pose anymore. She also suffered from bad health, so she may have been too unwell to continue posing for Watts.

Unfinished pictures are useful in revealing information about the artist’s painting process. Here, George first painted a layer of blue, then loosely sketched out the outline of the portrait, and finally focused on painting the details of Nightingale’s face.

George would often work on paintings over a long period of time. In her diary in 1891, his wife Mary complained that he often started new work despite his studio being ‘full of unfinished things’. Historic photographs of George’s studio also show it contained many unfinished pictures.

Adopted by Jim and Patricia Rothman.

Further information for this object:

Gallery Guide Collections Database

You might also like...

  1. Death is shown as an enthroned angel, flanking Death are allegorical figures of Silence and Mystery
    Object

    George Frederic Watts, Court of Death, 1870-1902

  2. A women is surrounded by children in this painting
    Object

    George Frederic Watts, Evolution, 1898-1904

  3. A woman in a vivid green dress reclines on the base of a tree
    Article

    Curatorial team in conversation: Virginia Dalrymple's Dress

    2 May 2020