Craig y Ladron - The Thieves Precipice

Craig y Ladron - The Thieves Precipice

1797
John Warwick Smith
1749-1831
Watercolor and graphite with pen and brown ink on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper
Sheet: 5 1/2 x 9 1/8 inches (14 x 23.2 cm) Contemporary drawn border: 11 7/8 x 16 7/8 inches (30.2 x 42.9 cm)

The Thieves Precipice depicts a landscape on the edge of Snowdonia and demonstrates the conventions of picturesque style. The sheer precipice guides the eye from the foreground to a clearly defined middle ground and background, which is further enhanced by the use of atmospheric perspective. The figures in the foreground are dwarfed by the surrounding landscape. A drama is playing out in the foreground: the gentleman dressed in red fails to restrain his dog from running after a cluster of sheep.

B1975.4.730
Inscribed in brown ink, on mount, lower center: "Craig y Ladron _The Theives Precipice - within Bwlch Cock
Inscribed in brown ink, on mount, lower left: "August 14th 1797"
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
http://collections.britishart.yale.edu/vufind/Record/1670943
Related Media
J. W. Smith, *Craig y Ladron - The Thieves Precipice*
J. W. Smith, Craig y Ladron - The Thieves Precipice John Warwick Smith, Craig y Ladron - The Thieves Precipice, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Center
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