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The Bard

Artist: JONES, Thomas (1742-1803 Thomas Jones, a pupil of Richard Wilson, came from a wealthy landowning family in Radnorshire. During his lifetime he was known as a painter of landscapes and history paintings in the style of his master, but today he is better known for his oil sketches of Italy and Wales. Daeth Thomas Jones, oedd yn un o ddisgyblion Richard Wilson, o deulu o dirfeddiannwyr cyfoethog yn Sir Faesyfed. Yn ystod ei fywyd cafodd ei adnabod fel peintiwr tirluniau a pheintiadau hanesyddol yn null ei feistr, ond heddiw mae’n fwy adnabyddus am ei frasluniau olew o’r Eidal a Chymru)

Poised on the edge of cliff clutching a harp, the last surviving bard places a curse on the English invaders before leaping to his death. This dramatic history painting has become iconic for Wales. Based on Thomas Gray's poem 'The Bard, 'it recounts the tale of Edward I's legendary massacre of the Welsh bards. Bards were highly regarded in Welsh society at that time, and were thought to be descendants of the Celtic druids. Jones makes this connection by giving his Bard druidic features - a long white beard and hooded robe. The stone circle in the background, based on Stonehenge, emphasizes the antiquity of the druid. This is one of Jones' early paintings in the grand manner, where the landscape is used as a background setting for a scene from history, literature or mythology. Jones regarded it as 'one of the best I ever painted'.

The Bard
Image: © Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales

Collection Area

Art

Item Number

NMW A 85

Creation/Production

JONES, Thomas
Role: Creation
Date: 1774

Acquisition

Purchase, 2/1965

Measurements

Height: 114.5cm
Width: 168cm
h(cm) frame:135.5
w(cm) frame:107
d(cm) frame:10.5

Techniques

oil on canvas
Techniques (fine art)
art dept - fine
Fine Art - painting

Material

oil
canvas

Location

Gallery 20

Collections Online is updated regularly, but please confirm that a work remains on display before making a special visit.

Categories

Painting Fine Art Celf ar y Cyd (100 Artworks) Cysylltiad Cymreig | Welsh connection Tirwedd | Landscape Bardd | Poet Telyn | Harp Hanes Cymru | Welsh history Archaeoleg a chynhanes | Archaeology and prehistory Llenyddiaeth, Llên | Literature CADP content

Comments - (4)

Nia Evans Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales Staff
7 July 2020, 16:33

Dear David Wheeler,

Thank you for getting in touch with us and for your enquiry. I have passed your comment to our Art department who will be able to advise further. Some of our staff are currently on furlough, so it might take a little longer that usual for us to get back to you.

Kind regards,

Nia
(Digital team)

David Jonathan Wheeler
4 July 2020, 16:25
Hi,

When will 'The Bard' be back on display?

I always look forward to seeing it when I'm in Cardiff and it hasn't been on display for quite some time.

Regards,

Dave Wheeler
Amgueddfa Cymru
22 April 2010, 17:25

Dear Gregory
Many thanks for your comment submitted through our Art Online website pages.

Your comment has brought to our attention a recent technical error on our website - 'The Bard' by Thomas Jones is in fact on public display at National Museum Cardiff.

We are working to resolve this problem and will update our website information as a matter of priority.

Sincere apologies for providing you with erroneous information.

If you would like to purchase a print of this work, please see our Print on Demand webpages [http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/picturelibrary/]

Many thanks

Gregory Toth
19 April 2010, 17:44
To Whom It May Concern,

I was deeply sorry to realise that this fantastic work is not on display. The reason why I was planning to visit your Museum was to have a viewing at this stunning painting. However, as I employee at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, I fully understand, nothing can be displayed all the time. I was wondering whether it is possible to buy The Bard as a postcard. I might be able to find someone who can purchase it and send it back to me.

Best wishes,
Gregory Toth
Library Information Assistant
Comments are currently unavailable. We apologise for the inconvenience.

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The Bard
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  • The Bard