The Watson Family of Artists
The Watson family were three generations of artists influenced by Rosa Bonheur a french animalière, realist artist and Sir Edwin Landseer an English painter and sculptor well known for his paintings of animals. This is their story.
Animal painting was extremely popular in the 19th Century
Animal portraiture was well paid and an artist specialising in this genre could expect a good constant supply of work and a steady income. This was the case with William and Robert who were able to afford servants with William living in large houses in the affluent areas of Birkenhead. The appeal of these paintings crossed class boundaries their works were common in middle-class homes, and also popular with the aristocracy. Queen Victoria who fell in love with the scenery of the Scottish Highlands commissioned numerous pictures from the artists. The most influential English animal painter was Sir Edwin Lanseer who's work included the iconic 'Monarch of the Glen',
William Watson Snr. 1809-1871
William Watson was born 1807 in Chelsea, London and died 2 June 1871 at Claughton Road, Birkenhead, Cheshire.
William Watson Children
Frances Watson
Frances Watson was born about 1840 in Hastings, Sussex, England and eath unknown. Married Jan 1865 Joseph Emmerson in Leeds, Yorkshire. Married William Emmerson July 1868 in Leeds Yorkshire. Married Joseph Emmerson Jan 1865 in Leeds, Yorkshire.
Valentine Watson
Valentine Watson was born about 1835, in Ore, Sussex, England. Died at sea New Zealand 1870. Master of the schooner Isabella Jackson sailing from Wellington to Kaiapoi all crew lost at sea.
Charles Watson 1837-1900
Charles was born Charles Clark Watson on 27 Sept 1837 in the district of St. Mary in the Castle, Hastings, Sussex, England and died 7 Jan 1900 at 38 Wigan Road, Aughton, Lancashire.
William Watson Jnr. 1847-1921
Active 1866 - 1920. William Watson was born 1847 in Islington, London, England and died 26 March 1921 in Capel Garmon, Llanrwst, Denbighshire, Wales. Married Eleanor Davies 1871 in Birkenhead.
William Watson's works can be found at the
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool -Morning, near Oban 1897, On the Goil, Glen Goil, Argyllshire 1897. Williamson Art Gallery and Museum, Birkenhead - Scottish Landscape, Highland cattle, Sheep on a mountainside. Manchester Art Gallery - Morning, Loch Goil, Argyllshire 1893, Morning on the Goil, Argyllshire 1897. Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport - Autumn, Glen Fyne, Argyllshire 1889, Spring, Glen Fyne, Argyllshire 1889, A Highland bull 1891, Misty morning, Glen Goil, Argyllshire. Salford Museum and Art Gallery - Collecting the Flock. Bradford Museums and Galleries - Highland Cattle. Stockport Heritage Services Museums - Crossing the Moor. Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston - Sheep 1884. Museums Sheffield - A Breezy Morn, Glen Massan, Argyllshire.
Frye Art Museum, Seattle, Washington - Morning on the Hills, Loch Tay, Perthshire 1910, Morning on the Hills of Loch Eilt, Invernesshire 1909, Evening by Moorland Stream, Loch Lyon, Perthshire 1910. The Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington, New York - The Mountain Herd, Loch Restil, Glen Coe, Argyllshire
Robert Watson 1855-1921
Active 1874 - 1920. Robert Watson was born Robert William Watson 9 March 1855 at 33 Marlborough Place, Brighton, Sussex, England and died 31 August 1921 in the Ramsey Cottage Hospital, Ramsey, Isle of Man. Burial Place, Ballaugh, Isle of Man. Married Alice Ashcroft in 1880 in Aughton, Lancashire, England.
Sheep and Lambs
Williamson Art Gallery & Museum
Robert Watson's works can be found at the
Williamson Art Gallery, Birkenhead - Four Sheep in a Landscape, Five Sheep in a Landscape, Sheep and Lambs 1894. Burnley Town Hall - Sheep in a Landscape 1894. Astley Hall Museum and Art Gallery - Highland Cattle 1848. Brighton and Hove Museums and Art Galleries - Highland Sheep 1903. Gallery Oldham - In the Trossachs, Stirling, Evening in the Hghlands. Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery - Highland Cattle. Towneley Hall Art Gallery & Museum - Highland Cattle 1894
William Watson Junior Children
Caroline Ellen Watson 1871-1947
Caroline Ellen Watson was born 30 Oct 1871 in Seacombe, Birkenhead, Cheshire and died May 1947 in Gwern-Y-Brenin, Oswestry. Married Herbert Isaac A Wellson 25 August 1896 at St John, Liscard, Cheshire. Widowed 1899.
William R C Watson 1873-1928
William Robert Charles Watson was born in 1873 in Seacombe, Birkenhead, Cheshire and died 1 February 1928 in Liverpool, Lancashire. Married Lucy Mary Hopps in 1919 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England.
Rosa Jane Watson
Rosa Jane Watson was born in 1876 in Seacombe, Cheshire, England and died 1884 in Ormskirk, Lancashire, England.
Walter J Watson 1877-1963
Walter James Watson was born 21 Aug 1877 in Seacombe, Cheshire, England and died 23 July 1963 in Gwern-Y-Brenin, Oswestry, England.
Associate member of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Arts in 1923 and exhibited from 1923 to 1937.
Ada Mary Watson
Ada Mary Watson was born 26 Nov 1878 in Maghull, Lancashire, England and died 1943 in Gwern-Y-Brenin, Oswestry, England.
Sydney Watson 1881-1931
Sydney Watson was born Arthur Sydney Watson in 1881 in Ormskirk, Lancashire and died 9 Jul 1931 in Hillside, Capel Garmon, Llanrwst, Denbighshire, Wales.
Sydney Watson's works can be found at the
Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston - Highland Sheep 1909, Highland Cattle – Loch Long, Argyllshire 1909. He exibited from 1919 to 1932 at the Royal Cambrian Academy where in 1923 was elected a member
Mable Evelyn Watson
Mabel Evelyn Watson was born in 03 November 1883 in Maghull, Ormskirk, Lancashire, England and died in 1968 in Gwern-Y-Brenin, Oswestry, England.
Robert Watson Children
Highland Cattle – Loch Long, Argyllshire
Getrude Helen Watson
Gertrude Helen Watson was born in1880 in Aughton, Lancashire, England and died December 1972 in Christchurch, Hampshire, England. Married Henry Harrold Johnson (Secretary Of The Moral Education Laegue) in 1903 in Ballaugh, Isle of Man.
Beatrice Adelina Alice Watson
Beatrice Adeline Alice Watson was born in 9 March 1882 in Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancashire, England and died March 1979 in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. Married Frank James Hawkins in 18 July 1916 in Aughton, Christ Church, Lancashire.
Florence Maud Watson
Florence Maud Watson was born in1884 in Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancashire, England and died 1904 in Ballaugh, Isle of Man. 1901 census living at Rose Cottage, Ballaugh, Isle of Man with parents occupation student of art.
William H Watson 1886-1964
William Harold Watson was born in 1886 in Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancashire, England and died in 1964 in Sea View Villa, Brookhill Road, Ramsey Isle Of Man. Buried Ballaugh, Isle of Man.
FAMILY TREE
Other 19th early 20th century artists painting in the same style.
Edwin Henry Landseer born 7 Mar 1802 - Foley Street, (then Queen Anne Street East), London died 1 Oct 1873. Residing at St. Johns Wood Road, London in the 1841 and 1851 census.
Thomas Sidney Cooper born Sep 26 1803 in Canterbury. Died on Feb 7 1902 Vernon Holme, Harbledown Road, Canterbury
William Sidney Cooper (great nephew of Thomas) born 1854 in Canterbury. Died Sep 1927 Blean, Kent, England
The Breanski family. Alfred De Breanski Snr was born 1854 in St Pancras, London died 1928 in Dartford, Kent. His sons Alfred Fontville de Breanski born 1877, Lewisham, Kent died 1957 Tonbridge, Kent, Arthur A W De Breanski born 1879 in Cookham, Berkshire died 1928. Brother Gustave Adolphe De Bréanski Snr. born 1860 in Greenwich, Kent died 1899 in Lewisham, London. Gustave's son Gustave Adolphe De Bréanski Jnr born 1885 in Lee, Kent died 1951 in Lewisham, London both marine artists. Alfred De Breanski Snr's daughter Eugenie Bertha De Breanski born 1875 in Lewisham, Kent is also recorded as artist, black and white, in the 1891 census.
The Sherrin family. Father John Sherrin born London in 1819 his son Daniel born Twickenham in 1868 died Mar 1940 in Blean, Kent. Daniel was living at Westbank, Joy Lane, Whitstable 1911 with his wife and artist son Reginald Daniel Sherrin born 1892 Brixton, Surrey died 1971 Devon.
Sidney Richard Percy Williams on 22 March 1822 in London died Apr 1886 Epsom, Surrey. He was the fifth son of the painter Edward Williams (1781–1855) and Ann Hildebrandt (c.1780-1851), and a member of the Williams family of painters.
Louis Bosworth Hurt born 1856 Ashbourne, Derbyshire died 8 Dec 1929 South Darley, Derbyshire.
Charles W. Oswald born Germany abt 1850. Living in Barnes Street, Liverpool 1891
Henry Garland born Dec 1834 Hadlow, Kent living at 2 Winifred Villa, Station Road Leatherhead, Surrey 1911. Died 22 Jan 1913 Epsom, Surrey
Henry Robinson Hall born 1859 York and died on 31 May 1927 at Barrow-in-Furness. He lived in the City of York, Elswick, Blackpool, Woodland, Coniston and Barrow-in-Furness. He was living at 87 Oxford St Barrow In Furness in 1911 John Morris born abt 1851 living at 9a Scotia Street, Glasgow 1881
William James Smith Crampton born 1855 in Manchester died Sep 1935 in Easingwold, Yorkshire North Riding, England. Residing at North Gates, Wetherby, Yorkshire with wife Marie Jane Crampton and son William Ernest Crampton.
Samuel John Barnes born 1849 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.
William Mellor born Barnsley 1851 living in Scarborough 1881. Residing in North Meols, Southport in 1991. In 1876 he married Mary Elizabeth Watson from Ouzlewell Green, Leeds. Residing at 78 Dragon Road, Harrogate, Died Sep 1931 in Harrogate,Yorkshire West Riding.
Herbert William Weekes born Pimlico, London 184. Married Caroline Anne Henshaw in 1865. Residing at 21 Oppidans Road, Primrose Hill in the 1911 census. Died 1914, Hamstead, London.
