William Turner of Oxford (1789-1862) - View of Snowdon

This highly finished watercolour by William Turner of Oxford is a superb example of the artist's skill in landscape drawing. An inscription on the back of the frame suggests this watercolour was painted in 1822. This correlates to the known visits to North Wales by Turner which began in 1815. [1] The artist, like many other of his contemporaries, was particularly interested in Snowdon. Another example of Turner's depictions of the Snowdon include an important work sold at Christie's in May 2003. He exhibited a number of views of Snowdon seen across the Vale of Festiniog and an important view of Capel Curig was exhibited at the Society of Painters in Water-Colour in 1835.
 
Turner was elected A.O.W.S and then O.W.S. in 1808 and was an early member of the Chalon Sketching Society (1808-1851).
 
Medium: watercolour on paper, signed l.r. on rock 'W Turner', 26 x 36.8cm, framed (47 x 55.5cm).
 
Provenance: The Leger Galleries, London, 13 Old Bond Street (label verso, exhibited in 1964 at the gallery).
 
Literature:
 
[1] Huon Mallieu (2002), 'The Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists up to 1920: Volume II M-Z', Antique Collectors Club: Woodbridge, pp.226-227. See entry on artist.
 
Condition report: generally good for its age. There is some time staining and yellowing in the sky. The frame shows some wear. Please see photos.