SELECTED GROUPS

JANUARY '09 SELECTED GROUP - Edmund Becker, Journey in Wales 1808

 Edmund Becker, Journey in Wales 1808

     In 1808 Edmund Becker visited Snowdonia. He travelled from Llangollen to Aberystwyth (via Corwen, Bala, Dolgellau, Barmouth and Machynlleth) as well as visiting Capel Curig and Snowdon. The works he made on the journey record Snowdonia at a time when Wales was on the brink of change. With local economies growing, often as a result of the manufacture of supplies for the Napoleonic wars, towns such as Llangollen were beginning to expand. Region wide infrastructures such as Telford’s Holyhead to London road were only a few years from being realized. And tourism, as a result, was beginning to boom.
     Becker’s works show the proliferation of stone bridges that were beginning to replace the more traditional wooden river crossings. He paid attention to relatively newly built inns and resting places such the George IV Hotel at Penmaenpool and Thomas Jones’ Hafod Arms Hotel at the Devil’s Bridge. He also made, what are now, rare records of a soon to change Aberystwyth. But his main concern was for landscape. Travelling on horseback, with a guide, via traditional routes, his views convey the experience of landscape as much as they do the topography of the region.

All works are in pencil, pen, ink and wash.

The condition of all works is very good and all are unfaded.

Sizes are given to the nearest half-inch.



1. 'Near Drusynnant between Bala and Dolgelley (Dolgellau) 1808'.
6x8 inches.
£300.

2.'Between Bala and Dolgelley (Dolgellau) 1808'.
Figures crossing falls of the Afon Wnion.
6 x 8 ½
£300



3.'From the meadow at Dolgelley (Dolgellau)'.
Figures walking along the bank of the Afon Wnion.
9 x 11 ½
£350



4.'Between Dolgelley (Dolgellau) and Dol y Myllin 1808'.
9 x 11 ½
£275

5.'Near Barmouth'.
On the Afon Mawddach.
9 x 11 ½
£350

6.'On the road to Barmouth 1808'.
5 ½ x 9 ½
£275

7.'On the road to Pont Te Gwyn'.
6 x 9 ½
£275

8.'Pont Te Gwyn'.
6 x 8 ½
£275



9.'The Peat Moss near Barmouth 1808'.
Watermarked ‘E & P 1807’.
9 ½ x 11 ½
£350

10.'Between Dolgelley (Dolgellau) and Nannau'.
6 x 9 ½
£250

11.'Between Nannau and Dolgelley (Dolgellau) 1808'.
6 x 9 ½
£250

12.'Between Dolgelley (Dolgellau) and Nannau 1808'.
Watermarked ‘E & P 1801’.
6 x 9 ½
£225

13. Aberystwyth;
The castle, with the base of Constitution Hill on the left
and an exaggerated Alltwen in the distance.
6 x 8.
£300



14.'Aberystwith 1808'.
The Castle.
4 x 6
£300



15.'Morning'.
Capriccio view of Aberystwith.
Watermarked ‘E & P 1801’. 
6 x 9
£300

16.'Aberystwith'.
The remains of the inner gate of the castle
from the north east, with a view out to sea.
4 x 6
£300



17.'Capel Curig'.
The Afon Llugwy.
6x9
£300

18.'Capel Curig'.
Evening; a shepherd and sheep on a country lane.
6 x 9
£300

19.'At Capel Curig'.
On the Afon Llugwy.
6 x 9 ½
£300



20.'At Capel Curig'.
Figure crossing a bridge on the Afon Llugwy.
6 x 9 ½
£300

21.'Capel Curig'; Snowdon in the distance. In the middle distance is the Inn built by Lord Penrhyn for visitors to Capel Curig. It is now the Plas y Brenin outdoor pursuits centre.
Inscribed recto 'Capel Curig'. 
6 x 9 ½
£300



22. 'Near kenniogga (cernioge Mawr) -
Moel Shiabod 1808'.
6" x 9"
£300


23.'On the river Conway between
Capel Curig and Kennioggo (Cernioge Mawr) 1808'.
6" x 9"
£300



24.'Pont y Paire'.
Inscribed recto; ‘Pont y Paire’.
6" x 10"
£300


25.'Between Kenniogga and Capel Curig'.
6 x 9
£250



26.'Between Capel Curig and Kenniogga 1808'.
6 x 10
£250



27.'View on the river Conway from the Capel Curig road 1808';
The Conway Falls with Snowdon incorporated into the distance.
9 ½ x 11 ½
£350




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