Our exhibitions team are very busy now as we are gearing up for our major exhibition ‘Kyffin Williams: Behind the Frame’ which opens on 16th February. There are so many amazing collections to choose from – not just his paintings, but his letters, diaries and ephemera from a previously unseen archive. It has been an immense yet enjoyable task; there is enough material to fill our extensive gallery over and over again!
At the same time we have been preparing almost 70 items for an exhibition at Oriel Ynys Môn entitled ‘Kyffin Williams: Celebrating a Centenary’ which opens on 3rd February. In return there are few little gems coming here on loan from the collection of Oriel Ynys Môn, which you can see on display at the Library. One of which is an emotive depiction of a storm across the Menai Strait which is the same view of an oil painting in our collection entitled ‘Storm Approaching’. It was Ian Jones, Buildings and Collections Manager at Oriel Môn, who noticed the link between their drawing and our oil painting: “Kyffin called the work ‘Beaumaris’, but it’s a view of the Menai Strait and Eryri beyond from Glanrafon, near Llangoed. Beaumaris is in the middle of the drawing behind the trees on the shore of the Menai.”
Kyffin was a staunch supporter of the Library and Oriel Ynys Môn and he would be thrilled to know that we continue to work together to share his collections with the nation.
For regular updates on the progress of the exhibition, follow us on
Twitter: @nlwexhibition
Instagram: @nlwales
#Kyffin100
These pictures are really fascinating, and I am so grateful to the National Library I got to see the originals. These paintings are very mysterious – who is the artist? A woman, a man? What age? What background? We can only guess. The technique is far from being academically perfect, but it conveys a unique feeling. The places depicted are local to Aberystwyth area, and the subjects are everyday activities of that time (drawing water from the fountain, fishing, working at the mill…). There are children playing, women with babies, farm animals grazing, and the pictures are both full of life and calm peaceful scenes.
This month, artist Valériane Leblond takes part in our #LoveArt campaign.
She has chosen ‘Cottage loaves baked in an ancient oven at Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant’ by Geoff Charles, January 1955 as her first choice.
'Bara wedi coginio mewn ffwrn hynafol yn Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant'
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I love how Geoff Charles allows us to enter people’s houses and learn more about their everyday lives. It takes a special talent to make people feel comfortable and natural in their own homes, especially if they are from a humble background. I have chosen this picture where Miss E Hughes seems so proud of showing how to bake a loaf of bread – bread is essential! – but there are many more by Geoff Charles of families, kitchens and hearths that are really interesting too.
Tegwen Morris, National Director of Merched y Wawr takes part in our #LoveArt Campaign. She has chosen View of Aberystwyth Harbour, 1944 Eric Beardsworth 1881 – 1961 as her third choice.
View of Aberystwyth Harbour
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I really like this lovely painting, which shows so many different elements. The setting has rarely changed to date – the beautiful boats, mountains and harbour in Aberystwyth. I often walk here – and there’s something different to see every day – the fishing boats, the big storms rush the water and the families who are crab fishing. What I really like about this painting is the white clothes drying on the clothes line. As a girl who was raised in the mountains but who now lives near the sea, this picture shows the perfect combination.
Tegwen Morris, National Director of Merched y Wawr takes part in our #LoveArt Campaign. She has chosen Lady Megan Lloyd George by Henry Lamb, 1952 as her second choice.
Lady Megan Lloyd George gan Henry Lamb, 1952
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Paintings of women are rare compared to paintings of men. This painting is lovely, with Dame Megan Lloyd George sitting relaxed and dignified on a comfortable chair. She has a lovely blue dress and a beautiful broach which reminds me of one of the Merched y Wawr “Ategolion at y Galon” collections. It’s astonishing to think that Megan Lloyd George died in 1966, a year before Merched y Wawr was established, I can imagine that she would of been a member had she lived longer.
Tegwen Morris, National Director of Merched y Wawr takes part in our #LoveArt Campaign. She has chosen ‘Ysbryd Erwau Gleision’ by Elwyn Ioan as her first choice.
'Ysbryd Erwau Gleision', [1988] Elwyn Ioan
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This is a colourful and lively picture that appeals to me greatly. It depicts a traditional Welsh kitchen with a strong element of humour. I like traditional furniture, and as a farmer’s daughter from the Ffaldybrenin area of Carmarthenshire I enjoy having fun. The Salem painting, the oak clock, the kitchen, the dresser and the glassware and the wooden chair on the traditional red and black floor (as in our Victorian house kitchen) creates a warm and traditional setting with a fire and two mice. (Though I do not like mice!). There is also a Ghost and because I was born on a Halloween this makes it a very relevant painting.
David Meredith, Chairman of the Sir Kyffin Williams Trust takes part in our #LoveArt Campaign.
Gareth Parry (1951)
Mae'n stryd ni ar werth ! / Our street's for sale ! gan Gareth Parry, ca.2000
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A native of Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd. His charming paintings show his love for his hometown. He once specialized in painting very detailed paintings of birds, wonderful paintings – all feathers in place.
To me he is a champion of capturing a rainy day on a busy street full of people, suffering the elements – when you look at the painting you can feel how wet the rain is!
His paintings are a joy to the eye – moody paintings of beaches and of ships are so real, making one feel the waves and the dance of the waves below.
Gareth has captured the colour of rock face perfectly – the fascinating mold is very simple. I love to ‘go in’ to his paintings.
I am delighted with his work – paintings which are a feast to the eye and the senses.
One does not always wish to transport themselves to those places an artist invites you to visit, but Gareth’s invite is so appealing, it evokes a notion of that is where you wish to be!
David Meredith, Chairman of the Sir Kyffin Williams Trust takes part in our #LoveArt Campaign.
Sir Kyffin Williams 1918-2006
Llyn y Cau, Cader Idris
Dr. Llewellyn Wyn Griffith
Storm at Trearddur
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The National Library holds the largest collection of works by Sir Kyffin, John Kyffin Williams or Kyffin as he would like to be called.
There was no stopping on his creativity, he painted continuously for 60 years – landscapes, portraits, people were very important to him, magnificent paintings and the sea and it’s mighty waves (as Jan Morris said – the sea was in his blood ‘), cartoons and and magnificent lino cuts.
Come to the National Library to enjoy his work. To me there is no one like Kyffin Williams for capturing ‘the moment’ – clouds in a lonely valley, a foggy mountain, a sheepdog jumping over a stone wall, or the image of a child or adult.
A miraculous element about Kyffin’s paintings is that they constantly change as light strike them. To me, he is the champion of our art, the best ambassador of Welsh art in the world. He put the mountains of Wales and it’s people on a pedestal and his paintings of Patagonia (a collection that I am very fond of) are a treasure to remind us of our fellow Welsh people in Patagonia and teaching us about the Guanaco, the birds and the prairie.
The need to conserve, preserve, catalogue and interpret our collections is a vital element of the work of the National Library of Wales, thereby making them available to the public. As the Library is home to a significant number of Kyffin Williams’ most prominent paintings and as we celebrate his life in 2018, safeguarding these and ensuring that they are correctly framed is an integral part of the conservation process.
Not only does a frame protect a painting from damage, but it also affects the presentation of the finished work. Indeed a good frame choice can greatly enhance a work of art and elevate the experience of the individual viewing the contents. Selecting the right frame for a work of art is a skill in itself. Kyffin had very definite ideas about how to frame his paintings, and the Library has embarked on a new conservation project to re-frame some of its works with the aim to honour the artist’s original vision.
Kyffin Williams
Kyffin Williams
Kyffin Williams
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The Framing the Future Fundraising Campaign will fund this key conservation project to enable Kyffin’s work to be cared for and appreciated by future generations.
Framing one art work will cost in the region of £2,000 and the generous support of our supporters will allow us to do more of the work. Every contribution will make a real difference and safeguard these iconic works for the future.
David Meredith, Chairman of the Sir Kyffin Williams Trust takes part in our #LoveArt Campaign.
Thomas Jones, Pencerrig 1743 – 1803
Trefonon, Radnorshire (ca.1780]
A scene in the road from Builth to New Radnor 1 mile from Builth
'In the island of Capri near Naples'
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Thomas Jones was born in Trefonnen, Llandrindod Wells, Radnorshire.
Thomas Jones was a pupil of the renowned Richard Wilson, Machynlleth and was a prominent commentator in the art world. He painted in Italy. In 1954 his oil paintings of Radnorshire appeared on the art market. I love his paintings and sketches e.g rocket pools near Pen Cerrig, Carnedde mountains, paintings of cattle, fields and trees.
I am particularly interested in his work as I lived for a while in Llandrindod Wells and saw the views he painted as I wandered his hometown, Radnorshire. Italy and Radnorshire
Thomas Jones worked and lived in beautiful places. In his work you’ll feel tranquility and silence – you’ll be amazed with his work. And the colours of his paintings? There is no better contrast between the linen walls of the Napoli buildings and the green fields and trees of Pencerrig estate, Radnorshire.
A blog about the work and collections of the National Library of Wales.
Due to the more personal nature of blogs it is the Library's policy to publish postings in the original language only. An equal number of blog posts are published in both Welsh and English, but they are not the same postings. For a translation of the blog readers may wish to try facilities such as Google Translate.
!['Ysbryd Erwau Gleision', [1988] Elwyn Ioan](https://blog.library.wales/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/gcf10244.jpg "'Ysbryd Erwau Gleision', [1988] Elwyn Ioan")
![Trefonon, Radnorshire (ca.1780]](https://blog.library.wales/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/0200108444.jpg "Trefonon, Radnorshire (ca.1780]")
