George Frederic Watts: A Life Dedicated to Symbol and Soul George Frederic Watts, born on February 23rd, 1817, in Marylebone, London, was an artist whose life and work were profoundly shaped by a deep-seated belief in the power of symbolism and the enduring resonance of classical ideals. His journey from a childhood marked by loss and a rigorous, almost austere education to becoming one of the most prominent figures of the Symbolist movement is a testament to his unwavering artistic vision. Watts’s early life instilled within him a reverence for antiquity, particularly the sculptures of anci…