John Watson

John Watson (1685 – August 22, 1768) was an early American painter, born in Scotland.

Early life Watson was born in Scotland in 1685, probably near Dumfries. He worked initially painting house interiors, before turning to portraiture.

Work in America In 1715 he emigrated to Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Watson bought property in the city east of Rector Street and south of St. Peter's Episcopal Church on the Perth Amboy bluffs and built himself a house in which to reside and one to keep his paintings. Early historian William Dunlap believed this to be the first collection of art in America. In 1776, his nephew, Alexander Watson, who was heir to his estate, withdrew from Perth Amboy, which was under pressure from colonial forces under General Hugh Mercer. Soldiers raided Watson's collection and, according to Dunlap, probably distributed and destroyed many of the portraits of English heroes and kings.

Attributed artworks

Year Title Image Collection Comments1735Portrait of Jan Baptist Van Rensselaer (c. 1735), oil on canvas view Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany, New York Subject: lived 1717-1763.