This late 19th-century oil painting by British artist Alfred Walter Williams (1823-1905) depicts a picturesque view of Llyn Dinas, a lake in Snowdonia, north Wales.
Nothing compares to the iconic British countryside. Whether it’s the tranquil heathlands of the New Forest, the rolling Kentish downs, or the majestic peaks of North Wales - the beauty of our landscape is unparalleled. As such, each of us retains a unique collection of fond memories - experiences entwined with a season, place or view.
When memories are recalled, we blend reality with emotion - our imaginations conjure images of harmonious designs. Our time among nature becomes enveloped in a sensation - something greater than the aesthetic itself. Alfred Walter Williams painted that image. With a sympathetic eye, he captured the views he treasured in a flattering light. His clouds congregate into a symphony of graduated tints across a balanced horizon of upland terrain. While his animals roam through verdant pasture - perfectly positioned to aid a composition.
Here, in this exquisite work from 1871, the abundant banks of the shimmering Llyn Dinas are deftly rendered. Note how he’s created several routes of visual navigation - upwards along a diagonal track, horizontally passed the restful cattle, and out to the right towards distant hills. The reflections in the lake are also nicely handled.
Alfred Walter Williams studied under his father, Edward Williams, and maintained a close relationship with his brother, the artist Sidney Richard Percy. Stylistically, the two brothers are similar, although perhaps Alfred’s works generally carry less grandiosity. Five of his brothers were painters, with some altering their surnames to avoid confusion.
Over the span of his extensive and fruitful career, Williams exhibited 76 works at the Royal Academy and 79 at the Royal Society of British Artists. He’s represented in various public collections including the V&A Museum and the Walker Art Gallery.
Signed/dated lower left and held within a gilt frame.
Learn more about Alfred Walter Williams in our directory.
Medium: Oil on canvas laid on board
Overall size: 35” x 25½” / 89cm x 65cm
Year of creation: 1871
Labels & Inscriptions: Titled and dated on the gilt mount.
Provenance: Private collection, England.
Condition: Assessed and approved by our conservator. Cleaned. Revarnished.
Artist’s auction maximum: £23,763 for ‘Playing Football Outside the Gun Inn (1844)’, Oil on canvas, Christie’s, Fine Victorian Paintings, London, 1989 (lot 38).
Our reference: BRV1613
