| Description | Volume I is largely made up of correspondence relating to Watts' portrait painting.
Correspondence with William Ewart Gladstone and his wife Catherine Gladstone referring to Watts' portrait of Gladstone, Gladstone's offer of baronetcy, war with America, poetry, Hebrew prophets and classical figures; with Alfred, Lord Tennyson, his wife Emily Tennyson and his son Hallam Tennyson regarding poetry, Watts' portrait of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, their close friends including Julia Margaret Cameron and Mr and Mrs Prinsep; Watts' portrait of James Martineau, Hallam Tennyson's engagement, the death of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Hallam Tennyson in Australia; with the Earl and Countess of Roseberry [Rosebery] regarding Watts' portrait of the Earl of Roseberry; with Professor Benjamin Jowett of Oxford and Watts' portrait of him; with John Everett Millais regarding their friendship, Watts' painting of Millais, Cardinal [Manning's] cap, Watts' figure on a horseback, the death of Frederic Leighton, Millais as President of the Royal Academy, Watts' gift of portraits to the National Portrait Gallery.
Material is made up of bound and loose letters arranged in intellectual order referring to the running order of letter numbers, awarded prior to the dismantlement of the collection. Items sold in separate lots not bought by the National Portrait Gallery may be held at other institutions or in private collections. |