Beschreibung:

George Frederic Watts (British 1817-1904)Portrait of Samuel Pepys Cockerell Esq. (1844-1921)Oil on canvas 75 x 68.5cm (29½ x 26¾ in.)In the original Watts frame. Executed in 1880-1881. Provenance:Private Collection, Samuel Pepys CockerellBy descent to his daughter, Frederica Lucy CockerellBy family descent to the present ownerExhibited:London, Royal Academy, 1881, no. 1391London, Royal Academy, Exhibition of Works by the late George Frederick Watts R.A., O.M. and the late Frederick Sandys Winter Exhibition, 1905, no. 215 (lent by the sitter)George Frederic Watts, the son of a pianoforte maker, was born into a life of arts and music. Watts' extraordinary talent was clear from a young age and he was entered into the studio of William Behnes at the age of ten. Behnes was an English Sculptor and under his guidance Watts studied meticulously the forms of marble busts and more specifically the Elgin marbles. At the spritely age of 18 Watts was accepted into the Royal Academy schools. Watts has become known today as one of Britain's most prestigious symbolist and allegorical painters of the Victorian era. The standout piece in the collection is George Frederic Watts' portrait of Samuel Cockerell himself. An unusual portrait which shows Cockerell seated on a dining chair set against a deep red background. He is shown in profile facing away from the viewer. Nonetheless, the rich colour palette and tentative brushstrokes are completely captivating.Samuel's elder brother Frederick Pepys Cockerell (1833-1878) followed in their father's footsteps and became an architect. The brothers collaborated on a number of projects together with Samuel providing designs for fixing and ceiling panels. Frederick was George Frederic Watt's architect who worked on his home, New Little Holland House in Melbury Road. The house was completed in 1876 and Watts remained there until his death in 1904. Watts painted a portrait of Frederick in 1877 and following his sudden death in 1878 Watts gave the portrait to his widow.The present work is thought to have been painted between 1880 and 188, after the death of Samuel's brother Frederick. Samuel Pepys Cockerell (1844-1921) | lots 237-241The following group of works from the collection of Samuel Pepys Cockerell (1844-1921) have passed through descent to the present owner and are coming to market for the first time since leaving the artist's studio. Cockerell was the youngest son of architect, archaeologist and writer Charles Robert Cockerell RA, RIBA (1788-1863). Samuel Cockerell established a career as a sculptor, painter and like his father, a writer. After studying a B.A. honours degree at Christ Church, Oxford Cockerell entered the Royal Academy Schools and exhibited at the Academy almost annually between 1875 and 1903. Cockerell had a particular interest in sculpture but also depicted a range of broad subjects from literary and biblical references and portraiture. His range of works were exhibited widely not only at the Royal Academy but further afield at the Grosvenor Gallery, the New Gallery, the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. Cockerell was also an avid art collector who was particularly fond of works by the Pre-Raphaelites.One of the most influential figures in Cockerell's life and career was his dear friend Frederic, Lord Leighton. Cockerell and fellow painter Valentine Cameron Prinsep were Leighton's executors and were present alongside family at Leighton's bedside on his death on 25th January 1896. Leighton trusted Cockerell's opinion and according to G. Ulick Browne's article in The Studio Leighton asked 'Cockerell's advice about the design and composition of his picture, and, what is more to the point, almost always took it.' Included in the collection is a series of landscapes by Lord Frederic Leighton depicting views of Lindisfarne Castle. Cockerell's close relationship with Frederic Leighton had a strong influence on both his work and personal life especially from 1875 until Leighton's death