Prominent figures from Welsh history are represented in the collection, from the earliest times to the present day. The National Library of Wales’s Portrait Collection is the largest collection of Welsh portraits in the world, comprising over 65,000 items. These three examples are essential in showing how Wales has artistically evolved and that the country is now being recorded and appreciated by our own indigenous artists as well as by others. We have also included a landscape by arguably the best known Welsh artist of the later 20th century Kyffin Williams and his work ‘Farmers on Glyder Fach’ from ca.1980. Turner’s ‘Dolbadarn Castle’ from 1799-1800 and James Ward’s ‘An Overshot Mill in Wales’ from 1847. In our list of works for Europeana 280 we have therefore included examples of how artists during this period perceived Wales in their search of the picturesque. As a result of works such as Richard Wilson’s landscapes (1712/13-1782) and Thomas Pennant’s Tours in Wales (1726-1798), Wales became very popular amongst artists. The art historian Peter Lord argued in his work Gwenllian: '.Wales was perceived by English intellectuals as a strange and ancient place with the customs, dress and language of the people belonging to another age, these qualities were considered attractive'.

Wales with its mountainous landscape full of castles and its unique language and myths attracted artists from across Britain.

Due to the Napoleonic Wars people could no longer travel to Europe (especially for the ‘Grand Tour’) and so artists turned their attention to Britain. Wales became a fashionable destination for artists during the second part of the 18th century.

Kyffin Williams, 'The Gathering, Farmers on Glyder Fach'Ĭentral to the canon of Welsh art history is, naturally, its magnificent landscape.

Christopher Williams, 'Sir John Williams'.

John Cambrian Rowland, 'Bell ringer of Caernarvon in costume of trade'.

James Ward, 'An Overshot Mill in Wales'.

Richard Wilson, 'Catherine Jones of Colomendy'.

The works vary from outsiders’ perspectives of Wales from the 18th century through to the 19th century, to an indigenous artisan painter’s work from the 19th century, to portraits from the 18th and 19th centuries through to works by contemporary Welsh artists. Included are landscapes, portraits and genre works. The works the National Library has chosen to be included in the project portrays the richness of the visual history of Wales and emphasizes that Wales boasts a great artistic tradition. The Welsh Culture Minister has worked with the National Library of Wales to select paintings of national importance. The aim is to celebrate the diverse and magnificent artworks that tell a unique story of how Europe’s art heritage has evolved over time, and to show people how their country is part of a shared art heritage. Europeana 280 is a joint initiative by Europeana, Europe’s digital platform for cultural heritage, and the European Commission that involved the 28 European Ministries of Culture working with their national cultural institutions to select at least 10 paintings that represented their country’s contribution to Europe’s art history.

Picturesque europe digital library