Conway Castle

Taggart employed loose, transparent watercolour washes to dissolve edges between land, sea, and sky. The pale, muted palette—soft greys, blues, and ochres—creates an atmospheric haze. Stone walls of the castle are rendered with slightly sharper definition, contrasting with the blurred surroundings to suggest age and permanence amid fleeting light.

Created in 1852, the work entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection as part of its broader acquisition of 19th-century British watercolours. Its preservation reflects the museum’s interest in documenting domestic and topographical art from the period, particularly works by women artists whose contributions were often overlooked.

Taggart’s approach aligns with mid-19th-century British watercolour traditions that valued observation over idealization. Artists of this era often depicted architectural ruins and coastal scenes as subjects worthy of quiet study, responding to growing public interest in travel, history, and the natural world during the early Victorian period.

Though not widely known today, Taggart’s work contributes to a broader understanding of amateur and professional women artists who engaged with landscape and topographical subjects. Her restrained technique and focus on atmospheric effect reflect a quiet but significant strand in the evolution of British watercolour painting.