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Works Thomas Girtin

Valle Crucis Abbey, from the River

1798 - 1799

 

Description
Creator(s)
Thomas Girtin (1775-1802)
Title
  • Valle Crucis Abbey, from the River
Date
1798 - 1799
Medium and Support
Watercolour on paper
Dimensions
20.3 × 29.2 cm, 8 × 11 ½ in
Object Type
Studio Watercolour
Subject Terms
Monastic Ruins; North Wales; River Scenery

Collection
Versions
Valle Crucis Abbey, from the River; Studies of Seated Figures (TG1339)
Valle Crucis Abbey, from the River (TG1340)
Valle Crucis Abbey, from the River (TG1342)
Valle Crucis Abbey, from the River (TG1343)
Catalogue Number
TG1341
Girtin & Loshak Number
292iii as 'Valle Crucis Abbey'
Description Source(s)
Auction Catalogue

Provenance

Arthur Mason Worthington (1852–1916); then by descent to Dr Robert Albert Worthington (d.1945); Mrs Gilson (Girtin and Loshak, 1954); Christie's, 8 July 1986, lot 124

About this Work

This view of the ruined abbey church of Valle Crucis, seen from across the Eglwyseg river, is one of four studio watercolours that Girtin created from a pencil sketch (TG1339) that he made on his tour of North Wales in 1798 (the others being TG1340, TG1342 and TG1343). Unfortunately, the watercolour does not appear to have been photographed, and it has not been possible to confirm the attribution of the work to Girtin. Thomas Girtin (1874–1960) and David Loshak in their catalogue of the artist’s work were content to list it along with the other three versions of the composition, however (Girtin and Loshak, 1954, p.174). The existence of these works makes the composition one of Girtin’s most popular commercially. All on the same modest scale, roughly 21.5 × 30 cm (8 ½ × 11 ¾ in) – and, like this example, without early provenances – it seems that rather than being made as commissions, they were sold on the open market to meet the demand for picturesque views of Welsh scenery that arose from the region’s increasing popularity with tourists.

(?) 1798

Valle Crucis Abbey, from the River; Studies of Seated Figures

TG1339

1798 - 1799

Valle Crucis Abbey, from the River

TG1340

1798 - 1799

Valle Crucis Abbey, from the River

TG1342

1798 - 1799

Valle Crucis Abbey, from the River

TG1343

by Greg Smith

Place depicted

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