This rugged late 19th-century watercolour by British artist Ward Heys (1836-1911) depicts a Snowdonian landscape with thatched cottage, figure and chickens.
Perched alongside a ramshackle cottage amid lofty environs, the artist sets to work. Capturing the crags and wind-battered foliage of a misty, overcast view. He’s working outside, painting from life, on a chilly day in dramatic Snowdonia. Perhaps he took shelter in this cottage with its tatty thatch and wonky facade. Artists would often befriend the locals for a bite to eat and a warm fire.
Heys was interesting - equally adept with numeracy as he was with a pencil. As the Treasurer of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, he’d give financial presentations between sketching tours to picturesque locations. His approach was to reproduce nature faithfully, in all its tangled complexity. Note the variety of tones and unusual composition. It’s also fitting that he used textured paper for such a rusticated scene.
How far did he venture up on this cold and tempestuous day? All in the name of good art.
Signed/dated lower right and held within a glazed frame.
Medium: Watercolour on paper
Overall size: 20½” x 17” / 52cm x 43cm
Year of creation: 1875
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.
Ward Heys was a British painter of naturalistic landscapes in watercolour and oil. He exhibited primarily in Manchester and formed an integral part of the committee that founded the Manchester Art Museum.
Learn more about Ward Heys in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
