LOVE AND LIFE

THIS IS A SMALL VERSION OF ONE OF WATTS' MOST IMPORTANT COMPOSITIONS. MRS WATTS LISTS A TOTAL OF SEVEN VERSIONS IN HER MANUSCRIPT CATALOGUE, OF WHICH THE ORIGINAL IS LOT 33 IN OUR SALE OF IMPRESSIONIST AND NINETEENTH CENTURY ART ON 24 JUNE AND FOUR OTHERS ARE IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS (SEE NOTE ON THE ABOVE PAINTING). THE PRESENT VERSION IS ONE OF EIGHT WORKS THAT WATTS SHOWED AT THE EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE IN PARIS IN 1889, A DRAMATIC REVELATION OF HIS POWERS THAT DID MUCH TO ENHANCE HIS EUROPEAN REPUTATION.