Art Funded by you

Margaret Elizabeth Hughes, nee Wilkinson (1800-87) 1858

George Frederic Watts, 1858

George Frederic Watts is a renowned artist of the Victorian age, and these two portraits offer new insights into his life and work. Watts was already an established artist when he painted the portrait of Margaret Hughes in 1858. Margaret was the mother of his friend, the philanthropist Jeanie Senior, and the portrait was painted in Malvern, where Watts travelled to take the waters. The portrait is thinly painted in the Flemish tradition, with the sitter appearing against a landscape background. The style is unique within Watts’ oeuvre and singles out the painting as a special gift for a friend rather than a formal commission. The ornate frame, carved with birds and foliage, might have been made by Watts himself. Margaret Hughes was a remarkable woman in her own right, as well as being the mother of several prominent figures, including Thomas Hughes, author of Tom Brown’s School Days. Tom Hughes later established a progressive community in the USA, and Margaret died in this community in Tennessee in 1887.

More information

Title of artwork, date

Margaret Elizabeth Hughes, nee Wilkinson (1800-87) 1858 , 1858

Medium and material

Oil on panel

Dimensions

43.2 x 38.1 cm

Total cost

13000

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

Art Funded by you FAQs

Why is this object record marked 'archive'?
Where can I see this work of art? Is it on display?
What is Art Fund's purpose?
How is Art Fund funded?
What type of funding do you offer?
What does the acquisition grants programme support and who can apply?
How many works of art has Art Fund helped museums to acquire?
I’m a curator/researcher/arts professional and would like to find out more about this work, how do I get in touch?
I’m a journalist and would like to contact Art Fund about this work, how do I get in touch?
I would like to donate a work of art to a museum. What do I need to do?
I'd like to leave a gift to Art Fund in my will. How can I do this?

Contact us

If you have a question about a work of art in our archive, please contact the Programmes team. We’ll be happy to answer your enquiry.