The Great Bridge over the Taafe

The Great Bridge over the Taafe
The Great Bridge over the Taafe
The Great Bridge over the Taafe
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
title=Credit line
Artist
Pierre Charles Canot (c.1710-1777) after Wilson
Title
The Great Bridge over the Taafe
Date
1775 (undated)
Medium
Line engraving and etching with hand colouring on moderately thick, moderately textured, cream laid paper
Dimensions
Metric: Sheet: 448 x 635 mm
Imperial: Sheet: 17 5/8 x 24 5/8 in.
Accession Number
B1977.14.14574
Wilson Online Reference
E28A
Description
A steep single-arched bridge spans a river which divides around a low island in the foreground. From there several figures turn to admire the view of rolling tree-covered hills beneath a large expanse of sky.
Exhibited
SA 1766 (234 - an impression); Conwy 2009 (30 - an impression)
Provenance
Acquired 1977
Signature/inscription
Inscribed in graphite lower right: 'W . . .'
Lettered below the image:
[1] Upper left:. 'Richard Wilson pinxt.'
[2] Lower left: 'THE GREAT BRIDGE OVER THE TAAFE, | in South Wales.
[3] Lower right: 'LE GRAND PONT SUR LA TAAFE, | dans la Principauté de Galles.'
[4] Upper right: 'P.C. Canot Sculpt.'
Collectors' marks
[1] Paul Mellon
Verso inscriptions
[1] Graphite, lower left: '16400 / 9 4/20'
[2] Graphite, lower right: '(IR74/657)'
Subject
William Edwards's bridge over the River Taff at Pontypridd was completed after four attempts in 1756 and measuring 140 feet (43 metres) in span, quickly became renowned. For over 40 years it was the largest single span bridge in Britain.
Versions
See 'Links' tab
Other impressions are at The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth / Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru (PG00881, 004609364 and 4488829) and the Royal Pavilion, Brighton
Related Paintings
No related painting is known to survive
Related Works by Other Artists
John Clerk of Eldin, Pont Y Pridd, etching and drypoint (5 states, 1776)
Critical commentary
This print is one of the set, Six Views in North and South Wales, all after Wilson, published by John Boydell in 1775.
Previous Cat/Ref Nos
Object ID: 40402
Bibliography
R. Gough, Anecdotes of British Topography, London 1768, p. 593; Edwards 1808, p. 88; Inventaire du Fonds Français: Bibliothèque Nationale, Département des Estampes, Graveurs du XVIIe siècle, vol. 3, Paris 1930, no. 95; WGC p. 187, pl. 56b; Solkin 1982, pp. 228-29
More Information
An impression belonged to William Lock of Norbury and featured in his sale, Sotheby's London 3-7 May 1821 (619).
Condition/Conservation
Plate size: 406 x 543 mm; 16 x 21 3/8 in. Good condition, unmounted.
Updated by Compiler
2017-06-21 00:00:00