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Poor Taff
Widely known as 'Poor Taff', this painting depicts the satirical Welsh character Shon-Ap-Morgan. Setting out on his journey to London, he intends to average the annual insults dealt out by the "rabble" English every St David's Day. His attributes include the goat he rides, leeks, cheese and herring.
These anti-Welsh symbols werepromoted in London's popular print culture in the late eighteenth century. As later prints condemned English abuse, Shon-Ap-Morgan becamse an affectionate symbol of Welsh national identity. This painting may have been commissioned by a London-based Welsh society for this reason.
The background text, a later addition, remains a mystery.
Collection Area
Art
Item Number
NMW A 24934
Creation/Production
Anonymous
Date: 1750-1850
Acquisition
Gift, 2019
Given by the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion and St. David's School (formerly The Welsh Girl's School), 2019
Measurements
Height
(cm): 100
Width
(cm): 86
Techniques
oil on canvas
Techniques (fine art)
art dept - fine
Fine Art - painting
Material
oil paint
Location
In store
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