Choosing (Portrait of Ellen Terry) - George Frederick Watts

A portrait of the actress Ellen Terry by George Frederick Watts, painted in 1864. The work captures a quiet, contemplative moment with symbolic floral elements.

George Frederick Watts painted this portrait of the actress Ellen Terry in 1864, shortly after their marriage. The work, titled Choosing, depicts Terry in profile, her gaze directed towards a camellia flower. The composition focuses on the contrast between the subject and the surrounding foliage. Watts employs a dark, moody palette that draws attention to the pale skin of the sitter and the crimson petals of the flowers.

Terry was a young actress at the time, and Watts captures her with a sense of quiet contemplation. The painting reflects the Victorian interest in allegory and the symbolic weight of floral imagery. The camellia, often associated with beauty and longing, serves as the central element of the narrative. Watts avoids the rigid formality of traditional portraiture, opting instead for a more intimate, psychological study of his subject. The handling of paint is soft, with light catching the texture of the fabric and the delicate features of the face.

This work remains one of the most recognised images of Terry, who would go on to become a celebrated figure in the British theatre. Watts, a painter associated with the Symbolist movement, often sought to convey abstract ideas through his subjects. In this instance, the act of choosing becomes a meditation on youth, innocence, and the passage of time. The dark background pushes the figure forward, creating a sense of depth that isolates Terry in a private moment. The painting is currently held in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London, where it is studied for its technical execution and its connection to the personal history of the artist and his sitter.