Artwork
St. Mary's College, St. David's
St. Mary's College, St. David's is an ink drawing by F. L. Griggs. It dates from 1902 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. F.
About this work
Overview
F. L. Griggs produced a pen-and-ink drawing entitled St. Mary's College, St. David's in 1902. The work records the architecture of an historic stone college, rendered in a compact, linear composition that captures both structure and surrounding landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The image centers on a stone edifice with a prominent tower and arched windows, suggesting a collegiate or ecclesiastical building. A modest pond lies before the façade, populated by ducks, while mature trees with stout branches frame the scene, hinting at a tranquil, semi‑rural setting.
Technique & Style
Griggs employs dense cross‑hatching and overlapping strokes to model volume and shade, particularly on the stone walls and water surface. The tight, crisscrossed lines generate a sense of depth, allowing the architecture and foliage to appear three‑dimensional despite the medium’s flatness.
History & Provenance
Created at the turn of the twentieth century, the drawing reflects Griggs’s interest in documenting historic British architecture. Its date of 1902 places it among his early works, before his later, more elaborate watercolours. The piece remains in private collections, referenced in catalogues of his architectural studies.
Artist & collection
