Early Life and Artistic Training George Frederic Watts entered the world in Marylebone, London, on February 23, 1817. His early years were shaped by the quiet industry of his father, a piano-maker, and the heavy shadow cast by the death of his mother when he was still young. This early loss left a mark upon his character, perhaps contributing to the introspective depth that would later define his creative output. Despite the fragility of his health during these formative years, a steady hand and a keen eye for form began to emerge through his studies. The boy's talent found its first true d…