Bronze Age Gold from Wales
Ceyx and Alcyone
WILSON, Richard (1714-1782
Richard Wilson, originally from Montgomeryshire, is often called ‘the Father of British landscapes’ for the key role he played in the development of the tradition, though he initially trained as a portrait painter. He became the first major artist to popularize images of Wales that went beyond topographical accuracy.
Caiff Richard Wilson, sy’n wreiddiol o Sir Drefaldwyn, ei alw’n aml yn ‘Dad tirluniau Prydain’ am y rôl allweddol a chwaraeodd yn natblygiad y traddodiad, er iddo hyfforddi fel peintiwr portreadau i gychwyn. Ef oedd yr artist mawr cyntaf i boblogeiddio delweddau o Gymru oedd yn mynd y tu hwnt i gywirdeb topograffaidd.)
In the 1760s Wilson produced a group of pictures illustrating high tragedy, usually taken from classical mythology. This work was shown at the Society of Artists in 1768. According to the Roman author Ovid, Ceyx, King of Tracninia, was drowned while on his way to consult the oracle Claros. His Queen, Alcyone, who learned of the tragedy in a dream, is shown distraught with grief as the ghostly white corpse of her husband is brought ashore. The king and queen were turned into birds - the Alcyones. Reynolds described Wilson's attempts at history painting as 'a very difficult adventure'.
Collection Area
Art
Item Number
NMW A 65
Creation/Production
WILSON, Richard
Date: 1768
Acquisition
Purchase, 1979
Measurements
Height
(cm): 101.5
Width
(cm): 127
Height
(in): 39
Width
(in): 50
h(cm) frame:130
h(cm)
w(cm) frame:151.5
w(cm)
d(cm) frame:7.5
d(cm)
Techniques
canvas
Material
oil
Location
Gallery 04
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