Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Cardiff-born William Goscombe John was one of the founding members of the National Museum of Wales, and played a significant role in Welsh cultural revival in the nineteenth century. He was also a prolific sculptor associated with the New Sculpture movement in Britain. He began work at the age of fourteen as a carver at Cardiff Castle. In 1881 he went to London where he was taught naturalistic modelling in clay in the French manner introduced in 1870s by Jules Dalou. He later spent a year in Paris, where he spent time in Rodin’s studio. Although primarily based in London, his work in Wales underpinned his career. Cardiff is full of his public sculpture, and he modelled the medals still awarded by the National Eisteddfod (1899). This 1901 portrait shows him at work in his studio. Goscombe John was also a great supporter of Amgueddfa Cymru, giving many pieces of his own work, and influencing the formation of its art collection. A bronze version of his Elf, seen in the background of this portrait, can be seen in the gardens of St Fagans National History Museum. Simon H. Vedder was an American-born artist, sculptor and illustrator who studied in New York then later moved to Paris.