William Watson (sinologist)
Encyclopedia
Professor William Watson CBE (9 December 1917 - ) was professor of Chinese art and archaeology at the University of London
. He was a leading member of the teams that organised the Genius of China exhibition at the Royal Academy
in 1973 and the Great Japan Exhibition, held in 1981-82. He made a major contribution to Japanese art studies in the UK.
, England
, but moved with his family to Brazil
, where his father managed a sugar-making plant. He returned to Britain in 1925 to and study at schools in Glasgow
and Derby, living with relatives. Already a scholar of Welsh
, in 1936 he went to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
, to read French, German and Russian.
, where his linguistic skills were put to use in the Intelligence Corps, with postings to Egypt
and India
. Here he intercepted German radio traffic for dispatch to Bletchley Park
, and later interrogated Japanese prisoners of war, developing a passion for Asian languages. In 1940 he married Kay Armfield, a fellow Cambridge student.
, where he became assistant keeper of British and medieval antiquities. He moved later to the Department of Oriental Antiquities
. In 1954 he spent a year in Japan, where he encountered classic Japanese painting and sculpture, met leading scholars, and acquired a working knowledge of the language and writing. He also visited China, establishing contacts that later enabled him to play a leading role in cultural relations in the early 1970s.
(SOAS). This involved responsibility for the collection of Chinese ceramics at the Percival David Foundation. He was a leading member of the team that organised the Genius of China exhibition at the Royal Academy
in 1973, and presented a BBC documentary with Magnus Magnusson
, filmed on location in China. He also made a major contribution to Japanese art studies in the UK. In 1972 Watson became a Fellow of the British Academy. In 1975-76 he was Slade Professor of Fine Art
at Cambridge.
In 1979 the Royal Academy turned to Watson to chair the curatorial committees for the Great Japan Exhibition, held in 1981-82. Under Watson's guidance this focused on the approachable, mainly secular, art of the Edo
period, with both exhibition and catalogue produced by British specialists, rather than being simply imported from Japan.
In the early 1980s Watson attempted to have the teaching of Japanese art history started at the Courtauld Institute. Although unsuccessful, this paved the way for the creation of teaching posts elsewhere.
From 1980 to 1990 Watson was a trustee
of the British Museum and in 1982 was made a CBE
.
and Anatolia
. His last work, the final book of a three-volume set on China for the Pelican History of Art series, was published shortly before his death.
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. He was a leading member of the teams that organised the Genius of China exhibition at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
in 1973 and the Great Japan Exhibition, held in 1981-82. He made a major contribution to Japanese art studies in the UK.
Early life
Watson was born in DerbyDerby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, but moved with his family to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, where his father managed a sugar-making plant. He returned to Britain in 1925 to and study at schools in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Derby, living with relatives. Already a scholar of Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
, in 1936 he went to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, to read French, German and Russian.
Military career
In 1939 Watson volunteered for the armyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, where his linguistic skills were put to use in the Intelligence Corps, with postings to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Here he intercepted German radio traffic for dispatch to Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is an estate located in the town of Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire, England, which currently houses the National Museum of Computing...
, and later interrogated Japanese prisoners of war, developing a passion for Asian languages. In 1940 he married Kay Armfield, a fellow Cambridge student.
British Museum
After the war Watson joined the British MuseumBritish Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
, where he became assistant keeper of British and medieval antiquities. He moved later to the Department of Oriental Antiquities
British Museum Department of Asia
The Department of Asia in the British Museum is one of the largest collections of historical artifacts from Asia, consisting of over 70,000 objects covering the material culture of the Asian continent , and dating from the Neolithic age up to the present...
. In 1954 he spent a year in Japan, where he encountered classic Japanese painting and sculpture, met leading scholars, and acquired a working knowledge of the language and writing. He also visited China, establishing contacts that later enabled him to play a leading role in cultural relations in the early 1970s.
University of London
In 1966 Watson took up a post as professor at the School of Oriental and African StudiesSchool of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
(SOAS). This involved responsibility for the collection of Chinese ceramics at the Percival David Foundation. He was a leading member of the team that organised the Genius of China exhibition at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
in 1973, and presented a BBC documentary with Magnus Magnusson
Magnus Magnusson
Magnus Magnusson KBE was a television presenter, journalist, translator and writer. He was born in Iceland but lived in Scotland for almost all of his life, although he never took British citizenship...
, filmed on location in China. He also made a major contribution to Japanese art studies in the UK. In 1972 Watson became a Fellow of the British Academy. In 1975-76 he was Slade Professor of Fine Art
Slade Professor of Fine Art
The Slade Professorship of Fine Art is the oldest professorship of art at the universities of Cambridge, Oxford and London.-History:The chairs were founded concurrently in 1869 by a bequest from the art collector and philanthropist Felix Slade, with studentships also created in the University of...
at Cambridge.
In 1979 the Royal Academy turned to Watson to chair the curatorial committees for the Great Japan Exhibition, held in 1981-82. Under Watson's guidance this focused on the approachable, mainly secular, art of the Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
period, with both exhibition and catalogue produced by British specialists, rather than being simply imported from Japan.
In the early 1980s Watson attempted to have the teaching of Japanese art history started at the Courtauld Institute. Although unsuccessful, this paved the way for the creation of teaching posts elsewhere.
From 1980 to 1990 Watson was a trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of the British Museum and in 1982 was made a CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
.
Retirement
Watson retired in 1983 as head of the Percival David Foundation, and became emeritus professor. He published widely on China, IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
. His last work, the final book of a three-volume set on China for the Pelican History of Art series, was published shortly before his death.
Selected bibliography
- Watson W. (1959), Sculpture of Japan from the fifth to the fifteenth century. London: The Studio
- Watson W. (1966), Early Civilization in China (Library of Early Civilizations), Thames & Hudson, ISBN 0-5002-9005-9
- Watson W. & Sieveking, G. de G.Gale SievekingGale de Giberne Sieveking was a prehistoric archaeologist, best known for his work on flint and flint mines, particularly at sites such as Grimes Graves. He "played... an important part in the development of archaeology as a discipline" and particularly in the understanding of the prehistoric period...
(3rd ed 1968), Flint Implements: an account of Stone Age techniques and cultures, London: British Museum, ISBN 0-7141-1306-9 - Watson W. (ed.) (1981), The Great Japan Exhibition: Art of the Edo Period, 1600-1868 (Exhibition Catalogue). London: Royal Academy of Arts.
- Watson W. (1995), The Arts of China to A. D. 900. Yale University Press Pelican History of Art Series. Vol 1 (of 3). New Haven: Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-08284-3, 2000.
- Watson W. (2000), The Arts of China 900–1620 Yale University Press Pelican History of Art Series. Vol 2 (of 3) ISBN 0-300-07393-3, 2003
- Watson W. & Chuimei Ho (2007), The Arts of China, 1600-1900 Yale University Press Pelican History of Art Series. Vol 3 (of 3), ISBN 0-300-10735-8, 2007