Artwork
Three heads
Three heads is an oil painting by George Frederic Watts. It dates from 1867 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
About this work
Overview
Three Heads is an oil painting created by George Frederic Watts around 1867. Associated with the Symbolist movement, this work typifies Watts' allegorical style, characteristic of his planned symbolic cycle, the 'House of Life'.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features three closely arranged figures, each with distinct facial expressions and hairstyles, conveying different emotional or symbolic states. The left head looks downward, the central head gazes upward, and the right head turns to the side, suggesting a narrative of contemplation, aspiration, and distraction.
Technique & Style
Watts employed oil paint to achieve depth and texture. Visible brushstrokes imbue the work with a sense of energy and dynamism, aligning with his expressive symbolic approach.
History & Provenance
Three Heads is part of the Fitzwilliam Museum's collection, showcasing Watts' contribution to British Symbolist art.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Frederic Watts (23 February 1817 – 1 July 1904) was a British painter and sculptor associated with the Symbolist movement.
Study of head and bust of youth, looking to lower left
Preparatory Study for 'The Travelling Companions'
A Study of a Head
Tapestry Cartoon: Two Heads from the Massacre of the Innocents
Two Female Heads and Torso of a Warrior
The Baptism of Christ
Bust of a Woman in Profile (sketch for a mural in the Villa Carreggi)
Cherubs of the Sistine Madonna
Time and Death
The Feast of Tabernacles
Charity
Head of a Young Man