Art Collections Online

Here Thomas Jones appears with his family at Pencerrig. He was described by a friend as ‘a little stunted man, round as a ball, the truest Welsh runt’. Throughout his life Jones demonstrated an awareness of his Welsh identiy - even during his time away. In London he moved in Welsh circles, socializing with fellow countrymen like William Parry; and in Italy he organized a St David’s Day feast aboard a barge on the Tiber. Renaldi was born in London, but became friendly with the Welsh painter Jones in Rome 1781. He spent 1786-96 in India. This conversation piece was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1798. It depicts Jones with his painting equipment. His Danish wife Maria sits at her spinning wheel. Their daughter Anna -Maria stands behind the spinet being played by her sister Elizabeth. The other man may be Thomas's younger brother, the Reverend David Jones.