Travellers crossing a bridge in the Vale of Tan y Bwlch, North Wales
Travellers crossing a bridge in the Vale of Tan y Bwlch, North Wales
Travellers crossing a bridge in the Vale of Tan y Bwlch, North WalesInscribed on the original backing: July 18th 1786. The Vale of Tan y Bwlch or Festiniog - looking from its Eastern Extremity to Tan y Bwlch, Hall & to the Traeth Mawr, in the distance. and further inscribed verso: View taken July 18th 1786Watercolour over pencil on original washline mount13.1 by 20.4 cm., 5 ¼ by 8 in.Provenance: George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick (1746-1816)John 'Warwick' Smith, who knew Rev. Gilpin through his relationship with his brother Sawray Gilpin (1733 - 1807), was in the vanguard of artists travelling to Wales in the late eighteenth century. His interest was probably further picqued by his friendship with the Welsh artist Thomas Jones (1742-1803), who had been in Italy at the same time. Smith undertook his first visit in 1784 and the inspiration he found in the dramatic landscape of the country is clear: he made a total thirteen trips between 1784 and 1806. Engravings after 'Warwick' Smiths watercolours were used to illustrate William Sotheby's, A Tour Through Parts of Wales, sonnets, odes and other poems with engravings from drawings taken on the spot, (1794) and Sir James Smith's A Tour of Haford in Cardiganshire, (1810).){kind=link}
John Warwick Smith (1749-1831)
Travellers crossing a bridge in the Vale of Tan y Bwlch, North Wales
Inscribed on the original backing: July 18th 1786. The Vale of Tan y Bwlch or Festiniog - looking from its Eastern Extremity to Tan y Bwlch, Hall & to the Traeth Mawr, in the distance. and further inscribed verso: View taken July 18th 1786
Watercolour over pencil on original washline mount
13.1 by 20.4 cm., 5 ¼ by 8 in.
Provenance:
George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick (1746-1816)
John 'Warwick' Smith, who knew Rev. Gilpin through his relationship with his brother Sawray Gilpin (1733 - 1807), was in the vanguard of artists travelling to Wales in the late eighteenth century. His interest was probably further picqued by his friendship with the Welsh artist Thomas Jones (1742-1803), who had been in Italy at the same time. Smith undertook his first visit in 1784 and the inspiration he found in the dramatic landscape of the country is clear: he made a total thirteen trips between 1784 and 1806.
Engravings after 'Warwick' Smiths watercolours were used to illustrate William Sotheby's, A Tour Through Parts of Wales, sonnets, odes and other poems with engravings from drawings taken on the spot, (1794) and Sir James Smith's A Tour of Haford in Cardiganshire, (1810).