Completed British 20th C, except portraits, Wales: Artists and Subjects 8 Can anyone identify these Welsh mountains?

Welsh Mountains
Topic: Execution date

The artist exhibited 'Welsh Mountains' as no. 410 at the Royal Academy in 1930. https://bit.ly/38DiweJ Can these mountains be identified? [Group leader: Kenneth McConkey]

Martin Hopkinson, Entry reviewed by Art UK

Completed, Outcome

This discussion is now closed. The location depicted was identified as being in the Nant Francon Pass, looking across the valley to Y Llymllwyd. The artwork description has been updated with this location information provided.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the discussion. To anyone viewing this discussion for the first time, please see below for all the comments that led to this conclusion.

7 comments

Nigel Pepper,

I asked about this painting in a Facebook group that specialises in identifying unknown UK images in old photos. The consensus is that it is also Penrhyn Quarries painted from somewhere in Bethesda. Compare with this 1933 photograph of Bethesda. https://www.francisfrith.com/bethesda/bethesda-1933_85618

It is also thought that Hall was applying some artistic licence to the bridge in the foreground and that it is Pont y Twr on the River Ogwen but as it looked in the 19th century, not the 20th.

Humphrey Welfare,

This seems to be in the Nant Francon pass, 1 km to the NNW of Pont Pen-y- benglog (at the W end of Lyn Ogwen), looking across the valley to Y Llymllwyd. It is tricky on Streetview to get the summits to line up as depicted, but perhaps Hall was not sitting on the A5 … The system did not like the link to the Streetview image so I will try again.

The Collection have commented: 'Just to say that we are grateful for the very helpful comments in identifying the location. It is great to see the Streetview image and to compare it with the scene depicted by the artist – it is incredibly similar. We will make a note on our database and update our files with this information.'

Since Humphrey’s Streetview has been accepted by the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery as the location for Oliver Hall’s painting, this discussion can now be closed with an appropriate expression of gratitude.

Since Humphrey’s Streetview has been accepted by the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery as the location for Oliver Hall’s painting, this discussion can now be closed with an appropriate expression of gratitude.