The three paintings below are Watson's wife and her two sisters, all stunning. 

 
George Spencer Watson ROI, ARA, RA (1869-1934)

My Lady of the Rose - Portrait of Hilda, the Artist's Wife

This superb British exhibited portrait oil painting is by noted artist George Spencer Watson. The influence of Lord Frederick Leighton and the Italian Renaissance can easily be seen. Entitled My Lady of the Rose, the sitter is his much loved wife, Hilda Gardiner. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy London in 1911 and has been handed down through the family. Watson also painted Hilda's two sisters, Elsie and Lillian and the family likeness is apparent. Known affectionately as 'Ginger', Hilda was a classical violinist trained in Europe. As a dancer and mime artist, Hilda was heavily influenced by the free form Greek style of Loie Fuller and Isadora Duncan. Her passion for dancing continued until the end of her life. She regularly organised and took part in performances both in London and later in the theatre that she built at Dunshay Manor, the Spencer Watsons's home on the Isle of Purbeck.  The symbolic title for the portrait 'My Lady of the Rose' reflects the artist's deep reverence for Hilda. The symbolism of the Rose as a symbol of love but also of new beginnings, an appropriate theme for the portrait painted in 1909, to celebrate his marriage to the sitter. The figures in the background perhaps reflect both the sitter and artist's interest in mythology and the arts. A winged figure fires an arrow which strikes another figure on whose belt the artist has signed his initials. The vibrant blues and reds and the fantastic brushwork and delicate detail in Hilda's face make this a stunning, deeply personal portrait of a much loved wife.
Signed GSW upper right.
 
Provenance The Royal Academy, 1911 no.368 entitled My Lady of the Rose. Bermondsey Settlement Picture Exhibition, 1913, label verso. Dresden exhibition label verso.                                           
William Harold Gardiner, ; Joan Gardiner (in Australia); Robin Tassell, of Dovehouse Stanwick, Northants;                           
Richard Thompson & Mary Spencer Watson; Thence by descent.

Click below for link to this painting
https://www.richardtaylorfineart.com/artist/watson-roi-ara-ra/my-lady-of-the-rose-portrait-of-hilda-the-artists-wife

                            

George Spencer Watson ROI, ARA, RA (1869-1934)

Portrait of Mrs William Tisdall - Elsie Gardiner

This superb large British Edwardian exhibited portrait oil painting is by noted artist George Spencer Watson. It was painted in 1909 and exhibited at the Royal Academy the same year and has a beautiful Pre-Raphaelite tone to it. One can see the influences of Lord Leighton and George Frederick Watts as well as John Singer Sargent. The sitter is Mrs William Tisdall, nee Elsie Gardiner, sister of Watson's wife, Hilda Gardiner. She was born in 1875 and died in 1940 aged sixty-five. She would have been about thirty-four at the time of this portrait.  She married William Tisdall - The Tisdalls were a prominent Irish family who had owned the Charlesfort Estate, Kells, Co. Meath since the mid 18th Century. They had a son, Michael. They moved to England and lived in Brighton, Sussex, in 1881 and Leigh, Worcestershire, in 1891. William registered for military service in 1915 which he survived and he died in 1954, at the age of 78, so out living his first wife by some 14 years, having married again. This stunning full-length portrait is of Elsie in quite a casual pose, one leg out and elbow resting on a mantlepiece of the fire place, a pink shawl beneath it. Next to her on the mantlepiece is a gleaming vase with red flowers partly reflected in the mirror. An ornate wall paper is behind her.  She is gazing to her right and downwards. She is a beautiful woman, wearing a white lace dress, caught in the sunlight, adorned with a pink flower and her dark hair is up on her head showing off her slender neck. She is wearing several gold rings, bracelets and necklaces suggesting her status and wealth. The luminosity of Elsie's white dress and skin tones against the dark background is simply beautiful. There are lovely details in her facial features and hands and the brushwork on the flowers and wallpaper is superb. This is a fantastic example of Watson's work and a simply stunning large Edwardian portrait oil painting that would not look out of place in any major gallery.
Signed and dated 1909 lower right.

Details of sitter inscribed on stretcher bar verso.

Provenance Exhibited: The Royal Academy, London 1909. no.40 entitled Mrs William Tisdall.
Possibly Exhibited at The Paris Salon. Dresden. Kunstsalon Emil Richter, 1911. Dorset County Museum, Dorchester & Southampton Art Gallery 18th Sept 1981-10 January 1982 no.3
The Artist's family, by descent. The artist refers to the painting of this portrait in his notebook at the time. 'Aug 08. Mrs Tisdall nee Gardiner sister of Hilda and Mrs Thompson...done at Charlesfort.....Had a delightful time there'.

Click below for link to this painting
https://www.richardtaylorfineart.com/artist/watson-roi-ara-ra/portrait-of-mrs-william-tisdall-elsie-gardiner




George Spencer Watson ROI, ARA, RA (1869-1934)

Portrait of Mrs Lillian Gardiner

This superb British portrait oil painting is by noted artist George Spencer Watson and is dateable to 1913. The sitter is Lillian Gardiner ( Mrs Jack Allen) and is the sister of Watson's wife, Hila Gardiner. Watson also painted Hila's other sister Elsie in 1909 of which there is a likeness. The portrait is half-length of Lillian wearing a velvet grey cape with fur cuffs and muff, with a vivid blue silk scarf to her head and pendant earrings.  The brushwork and detail are just superb and it is beautifully housed in a silver and gold frame that perfectly compliments the colour tones. This is an excellent example of Watson's work.

Unsigned. 

Provenance The Artist's family, by descent.

Click link below for this painting
https://www.richardtaylorfineart.com/artist/watson-roi-ara-ra/portrait-of-mrs-lillian-gardiner