drawing
- Museum number
- 1906,0707.12
- Description
-
Study of a man's head, looking up to right, possibly for the cartoon 'Caratacus'; with long, curly hair and a moustache, with a study of the lower half of the body
Black chalk on grey paper
- Production date
- 1817-1904
- Dimensions
-
Height: 446 millimetres
-
Width: 363 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- In 1843, George Frederick Watts submitted a cartoon with life-size figures illustrating 'Caractacus Led in Triumph through the Streest of Rome (later cut up; three parts survive at the V&A) from the 'Annals' of Tacitus to the competition to decorate the new Palace of Westminster with history paintings. This drawing is one of the few head studies for this large cartoon to survive. Watts won one of the three prizes of £300 and left shortly afterwards to study in Italy. See also 1885,0509.1650 for a sketch of the entire composition. See M. Bills and B. Bryant, 'G. F. Watts, Victorian Visionary', 2008, pp. 23-4.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
(?) 1954/5, Dec-Jan, Tate, 'George Frederick Watts 1817-1904', no.93
- Acquisition date
- 1906
- Acquisition notes
- By descent from the artist to his wife Mary Seton Watts
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1906,0707.12