Some Little Talk of Me and Thee There Was

Harry Willson Watrous was an American painter born in 1857. Born in San Francisco, his family moved to Manhattan in 1864, where he attended local private schools. Upon graduation, Watrous spent a year studying and working with an artist named F. Hatch before traveling abroad.

Following visits to Spain, Morocco, and Gibraltar, Watrous landed in Paris in 1882 to continue his education. By 1884 he was exhibiting at the Paris Salon and returned to New York in 1886.

Much admired for his small-scale genre scenes, landscapes, and still lifes, Watrous's most innovative body of work was his paintings of contemporary women. His use of his paintings as vehicles of commentary on society and social norms was considered radical among his peers.

Watrous continued to be a stand out member of the City's arts community for over four decades. He was a member of many of the arts organizations and clubs of his day, including The National Arts Club, where he served on the Board of Governors.