Artwork
Robert Ellis, Ysgoldy
Robert Ellis, Ysgoldy is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Evan Williams. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the National Library of Wales.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1860, this oil portrait presents the Welsh figure Robert Ellis as rendered by the artist Evan Williams. The work is part of the collection of the National Library of Wales, where it remains accessible for study and public viewing. It exemplifies mid‑nineteenth‑century portraiture in a modest, yet carefully composed format.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, identified as Robert Ellis, occupies a simple chair, his posture suggesting contemplation. He wears a dark jacket over a white shirt and a bow tie, attire that conveys a formal or professional context. The presence of a paper beneath his left hand hints at his engagement with written work, perhaps reflecting his intellectual or civic pursuits.
Technique & Style
Williams employs a restrained palette dominated by deep shadows and a subtle gradation of light, producing a chiaroscuro effect that models the figure’s form. The dark background recedes, allowing the illuminated face and clothing to emerge with three‑dimensional clarity. Brushwork is smooth and controlled, emphasizing the texture of the fabric and the crispness of the paper.
History & Provenance
Since its completion, the portrait has been retained within Welsh institutional holdings, ultimately entering the National Library of Wales’s collection. The library’s acquisition ensures the work’s preservation and its availability for scholarly research, situating it among other documentary artifacts of 19th‑century Welsh cultural history.
Artist & collection
Artist
Evan Williams painted oil portraits of 19th-century Welsh people, often naming both subject and date in the title.
