Artwork
Harlech Castle, Merionethshire
Harlech Castle, Merionethshire is a drawing by the Romanticist artist John Sell Cotman. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Harlech Castle, Merionethshire is a pencil drawing created by John Sell Cotman in 1838. It depicts the castle's exterior from the south-east.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing shows Harlech Castle perched on a rocky hillside, with crumbling walls and a weathered appearance. A steep drop leads to a grassy area and a winding road below.
Technique & Style
Cotman used quick, sketchy lines to capture the castle's rough texture and jagged rocks. The drawing has a spontaneous, unfinished quality, suggesting it was created as a rapid study or instructional example.
History & Provenance
The work is likely an example created for Cotman's students, demonstrating techniques such as capturing texture and atmosphere.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Sell Cotman (16 May 1782 – 24 July 1842) was an English marine and landscape painter, etcher, illustrator, and a leading member of the Norwich School of painters.
