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"The Last Welsh Bard", the Painting which obtained the Prize at the Llangollen Eisteddfod, 1858. Creator: Unknown. "The Last Welsh Bard", the Painting which obtained the Prize at the Llangollen Eisteddfod, 1858. Creator: Unknown
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"The Last Welsh Bard", the Painting which obtained the Prize at the Llangollen Eisteddfod, 1858. Creator: Unknown. "The Last Welsh Bard", the Painting which obtained the Prize at the Llangollen Eisteddfod, 1858. Creator: Unknown
"The Last Welsh Bard", the Painting which obtained the Prize at the Llangollen Eisteddfod, 1858. The Eisteddfod at Llangollen this year was signalised by a pictorial competition in addition to the usual bardic performances...[the winner of the best painting by a Welsh artist was] Mr. William Jones...for his painting...which is undoubtedly a clever work, and full of national character. The artist appears to have taken his subject from that portion of Gray's ode in which the last bard is represented on the lofty heights of Snowdon, viewing the advance of Edward's invading army, with mingled feelings of sorrow and ire: "On a rock whose haughty brow Frowned o'er old Conway's foaming flood Rob'd in sable garb of woe, With haggard eyes the poet stood (Loose his beard and hoary hair Streamed like a meteor in the troubled air), And, with a master's hand and prophet's fire, Struck the deep sorrows of his lyre". The attitude of the venerable bard, standing undismayed on his dizzy height, is boldly conceived. His face wears a severe expression, his sparse grey hairs being agitated by the wind. The ribbon bound round his uplifted arm denotes that he is a man of high rank. Far below...winds the struggling and broken flood of the Conway'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858
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Bard Conwy Cultural Event Dramatic Eisteddfod Elderly Man Harp Mount Snowdon Old Man Old Men Pictures River Conwy Snowdon Stringed Instrument Thomas Gray Wales Welsh Winner Winning
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The Last Welsh Bard,
EDITORS COMMENTS
a captivating painting that secured the top honor at the Llangollen Eisteddfod in 1858, remains an enigma with an unknown creator. This annual cultural festival in Llangollen, Wales, marked a significant milestone with the introduction of a pictorial competition, in addition to the traditional bardic performances. The winning entry was awarded to Mr. William Jones for his evocative painting, which beautifully encapsulates the essence of Welsh national identity. The painting portrays a lone bard, dressed in somber attire, standing defiantly on a rocky outcrop overlooking the tumultuous Conway River. The bard's severe expression and disheveled grey hair, streaming in the wind, convey a sense of deep sorrow and unyielding resolve. The ribbon adorning his raised arm signifies his noble status. The inspiration for this powerful work appears to be drawn from Gray's ode, where the last bard is depicted on the lofty heights of Snowdon, facing the encroaching English army. The bard's poignant reaction is immortalized in Gray's words: "On a rock whose haughty brow Frowned o'er old Conway's foaming flood / Rob'd in sable garb of woe, / With haggard eyes the poet stood / (Loose his beard and hoary hair / Streamed like a meteor in the troubled air), / And, with a master's hand and prophet's fire, / Struck the deep sorrows of his lyre." The painting's composition skillfully conveys the bard's unwavering commitment to his art and his homeland, even in the face of adversity. The contrast between the tranquil, yet ominous, heights of the bard and the turbulent waters of the Conway River below adds depth and complexity to the scene. "The Last Welsh Bard" stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Welsh people and their rich cultural heritage.
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