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    300 years
    Return to "Edwards 1808" is linked to these Works 108 items
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    The Great Bridge over the Taafe

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    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
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    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.
    Collection
    Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven. To license images click here
    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

    Work of Art

    Versions

    • Pierre Charles Canot (c.1710-1777)after Wilson, The Great Bridge over the Taaffe in South Wales, The British Museum
    • Pierre Charles Canot (c.1710-1777)after Wilson, The Great Bridge over the Taaffe in South Wales, The British Museum
    • Pierre Charles Canot (c.1710-1777)after Wilson, The Great Bridge over the Taafe, National Museum Wales, Cardiff

    Exhibitions

    • Conwy, Royal Cambrian Academy, 24 October - 23 December 2009

    Biographies

    • Paul Mellon (1907-1999)
    • Pierre-Charles Canot (c.1710-1777)

    Documents

    • Edward Edwards, Anecdotes of Painters who have resided or been born in England; with critical Remarks on their Productions
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