Prometheus Antiques has dated this piece to the 1880s.
The painting is initialled for John Dawson Watson 1832-1892 he exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1853 to 1890, the British Institution, the Society of British Artists Suffolk Street, Royal Watercolour Society, and the Grosvenor Gallery. He was famous for his paintings of genre scenes, often of children. His pictures were usually small, painted on panel or board, and showed a Pre-Raphaelite feeling for colour and detail as can be seen here. He was also a prolific and notable illustrator, producing many designs for books and periodicals. He worked for Once a Week, Good Words, London Society and others; among the many books he illustrated were Pilgrim's Progress, Arabian Nights, and Watt's Diine and Floral Songs. Works by him are in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Norwich and Liverpool. The painting has been professionally cleaned and is in excellent condition, it also retains the original substantial gilt frame. There is an interesting inscription on the back of the work which states that it was purchased from the estate sale of another well known Victorian artist Alexander Rossi who died in 1916.
The work is a fine example of the genre and a very decorative work by a good artist. C.1880
Overall sizes in inches including frame: 20 3/4 by 25
Prometheus Antiques has dated this piece to the 1880s.
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