A half finished bust portrait of Florence Nightingale — G F Watts, *Florence Nightingale*, 1868, oil on canvas

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) was a nurse who became a national hero. She was known as the ‘Lady with the Lamp’ because of her care of soldiers during the Crimean War against Russia (1853-86).

George Frederic Watts met Nightingale in Southampton in the 1860s. It is not known for sure why the portrait was never finished. Nightingale disliked having her portrait taken, so it is possible that she refused to pose anymore. She also suffered from bad health, so she may have been too unwell to continue posing for Watts.

Unfinished pictures are useful in revealing information about the artist’s painting process. Here, George first painted a layer of blue, then loosely sketched out the outline of the portrait, and finally focused on painting the details of Nightingale’s face.

George would often work on paintings over a long period of time. In her diary in 1891, his wife Mary complained that he often started new work despite his studio being ‘full of unfinished things’. Historic photographs of George’s studio also show it contained many unfinished pictures.

Adopted by Jim and Patricia Rothman.

Further information for this object:

Gallery Guide Collections Database

Watts Gallery and Artists' Village

George Frederic Watts, Florence Nightingale, 1868

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