Watts Gallery facts for kids
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Watts Gallery (restored)
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 Watts Gallery
Location in Surrey
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| Location | Compton, Surrey |
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| Coordinates | 51°13′17″N 0°37′45″W / 51.2213°N 0.6293°W |
| Owner | Watts Gallery Trust |
| Type | Art gallery |
| Genre(s) | Single artist |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1903 |
| Opened | 1 April 1904 |
| Expanded | 1906 |
| Architect | Christopher Hatton Turnor |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Designated | 4 June 1975 |
| Reference no. | 1188403 |
The Watts Gallery – Artists' Village is a special art gallery located in the village of Compton. This village is near Guildford in Surrey, England. The gallery is all about the amazing artworks of George Frederic Watts. He was a famous painter and sculptor from the Victorian-era.
This gallery is a very important building. It has been listed as a Grade II* listed building since 1975. This means it's a historic place that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of Watts Gallery
How the Gallery Started
George Frederic Watts moved to a home called "Limnerslease" in Compton in 1891. He lived there with his wife, Mary Fraser-Tytler, who was also an artist. They both dreamed of creating a museum to show off Watts's art.
Their dream came true! The museum opened its doors in April 1904. Sadly, George Frederic Watts passed away shortly after it opened.
Building the Gallery
The person who designed the gallery building was Christopher Hatton Turnor. He was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. This movement focused on beautiful, handmade items and natural materials.
The gallery has special rooms with light coming from the ceiling. This helps Watts's paintings look their best in natural light.
A Unique Art Space
The Watts Gallery is one of the few galleries in the UK dedicated to just one artist. It's often called a "national gallery" even though it's in a small village. It's run by a group called the Watts Gallery Trust, which is a registered charity. This means it's a non-profit organization that helps the public.
In 2006, the gallery was featured on a BBC TV show called Restoration Village. It came in second place!
Restoration and Reopening
In 2008, the gallery decided to sell two old paintings. These paintings were Sleeping Woman by Albert Joseph Moore and Triumph of Love by Edward Burne-Jones. The money from these sales helped pay for important repairs.
The gallery closed from September 2008 until 2010 for these big restoration works. In December 2006, the gallery received a large grant of £4.3 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This money helped make sure the building and its art would be safe for the future.
The Watts Gallery reopened in June 2011 after a major project. This project included adding new parts, fixing up old ones, and restoring the original look. Now, visitors can see Watts's art in the beautiful, historic rooms just as they were meant to be seen.
What You Can See Today
Today, you can see over one hundred paintings by G. F. Watts at the gallery. These artworks cover 70 years of his life. They include portraits of people, beautiful landscapes, and his famous symbolic works.
When you enter the Livanos Gallery, you'll see dramatic art. In the Sculpture Gallery, you'll find huge sculptures and tools from his studio. The Watts Gallery proudly displays the art collection that Watts left behind for everyone to enjoy.
In January 2016, the "Limnerslease" building also reopened. This was the home and studio of G. F. and Mary Watts. With its opening, the Watts Gallery truly became the "Artists' Village."
Watts Mortuary Chapel
Near the gallery is Compton's burial ground. This is where Watts is buried. The burial ground has a very special building called the Watts Mortuary Chapel. It's an ornate building designed by Watts's wife, Mary. This chapel is also looked after by the museum.
De Morgan Foundation Exhibition
In 2014, the De Morgan Centre in London closed. After this, the Watts Gallery started working with the De Morgan Foundation. This foundation is a charity that protects the art of William De Morgan and Evelyn De Morgan.
Now, the Watts Gallery has a long-term exhibition in the Richard Jeffries Gallery. This exhibition shows many important artworks from the De Morgan Collection.
See also
In Spanish: Galería Watts para niños
- List of single-artist museums
