This glorious late 19th-century Welsh landscape painting by English artist Alfred de Breanski RBA (1852-1928) depicts the rugged beauty of Aberglaslyn in North Wales at the close of day, when the last warmth of sunlight catches the mountains and turns the river below into a shimmering ribbon of reflected gold. The work is a particularly fine example.
The intelligent composition draws the eye into the valley through the rushing river, which threads its way between rocky slopes and wooded banks before dissolving into distant mountain haze. On the right, sheep graze beneath glowing crags touched with amber evening light, while the left-hand slopes descend into shadow and cool greenery. Beyond, layer upon layer of mountain forms recede into soft violet, beneath a pale sky streaked with the final traces of sunset.
De Breanski was among the foremost British landscape painters of the late Victorian period and particularly admired for his views of Wales, Scotland, and the English Lake District. His paintings offered viewers an idealised yet recognisable vision of the British landscape. Critics repeatedly praised his “harmonious colouring”, “tenderness of atmospheric gradation”, and ability to evoke the emotional poetry of landscape.
Aberglaslyn was a subject perfectly suited to his temperament. The dramatic scenery of North Wales had captivated artists and travellers throughout the 19th century, particularly following the rise of railway tourism. De Breanski returned frequently on sketching tours, finding in its valleys, rivers, and mountains an endless source of inspiration.
Importantly, this painting also carries exceptional provenance, charting a fascinating international collecting history across more than a century. It appeared twice at the celebrated Rudolph Lepke auctions in Berlin - first in 1898 and again in 1905 - before later passing through Sotheby’s Belgravia in 1978, where it realised £2,800 (the equivalent of £15,592 today). More recently, it formed part of a private Austrian collection. Such well-documented provenance reflects the international appreciation of Breanski's work during his lifetime.
Today, Alfred de Breanski’s finest landscapes are increasingly recognised as major works within late Victorian naturalism. His paintings are represented in numerous public collections, including Southampton City Art Gallery and the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum.
Signed in the lower left. Remnants of a handwritten label preserved on the reverse. Held in a later gilt frame with pierced foliate corners, scrolling strapwork, and floral ornament throughout.
Learn more about Alfred de Breanski in our directory.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 42½” x 31” / 108cm x 79cm
Year of creation: c. 1875
Labels & Inscriptions: Partial label on the reverse bearing a title.
Provenance: Rudolph Lepke, Berlin, 18 October 1898, lot 80 / Rudolph Lepke, Berlin, 9 May 1905, lot 71 / Sotheby’s, Belgravia, London, 12 December 1978, lot 129 (£2,800) / Private collection, Austria.
Condition: Cleaned. Revarnished. Frame in good condition with minor age-related wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £77,000 achieved in 1997 for ‘Western Hebrides’.
Our reference: BRV2284
