This imaginative portrayal of James Watt (1736-1819) was engraved by Herbert Bourne after a painting by Marcus Stone, which was in the collection of George Virtue, Esq. of Oatlands Park at the time that the print was created. Watt was a Scottish engineer and chemist who was known for his vast improvements to the early steam engine. The picture depicts him as a young boy, already fascinated by the steam power of a kettle. Although Watt in fact probably became interested in steam energy as a young adult, this myth of his "first experiment" continues in popularity today.