"I believe if I were to spit upon a piece of paper and smear it over with my hand they would declare it beautiful, and have a scramble who was to buy it."
On Watson coming to London our connection developed into close social friendship. We had a great liking for his work outside his black and white. The first picture we bought from him was off the walls of the Royal Academy, "A Pet Goat," a small but most highly finished work. He did several water colour portraits of members of our family, and some fine heads, by point work, in sepia-coloured inks. We also purchased several small water colour drawings from him which he made to be reproduced in colour.
Cleopatra.
FROM THE "CORNHILL MAGAZINE."
By Frederick Sandys.
By permission of Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co.
Watson had great dramatic taste; his connection with Birket Foster, and the frequent visits to his big house, "The Hill," at Witley, in association with Fred Walker and two or three other kindred spirits, gave him plenty of opportunity for exercising his favourite hobby. In the plays they got up he was everything, leading business, scene painter, costumier, stage and general manager. He had a perfect knowledge of costume—used to cut out the dresses, and, with the assistance of his wife and sister, did all the "tailoring." These plays were delightful and a joy to all who had the good fortune to witness them.