Artwork
Cei Newydd, near Talsarnau
Cei Newydd, near Talsarnau is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist John Kelt Edwards. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the National Library of Wales.
About this work
Overview
John Kelt Edwards painted Cei Newydd, near Talsarnau in 1910 using oil on canvas. The work presents a tranquil rural scene in Wales, centered on a modest house with a white roof set against a gently undulating valley. Soft, muted tones dominate the composition, creating a serene atmosphere that captures a moment of quiet countryside life.
Subject & Meaning
The landscape portrays the area around Talsarnau, showing a low-lying valley flanked by rolling green hills and a rocky slope on the left. A solitary house, bordered by a fence and a few scattered trees, anchors the view. The painting conveys a sense of stillness and modest domesticity, reflecting the everyday environment of early‑20th‑century Welsh rural communities.
Technique & Style
Edwards employed loose, rapid brushwork that suggests a sketch‑like quality rather than meticulous detail. The oil paint is applied in a relatively thin manner, allowing the underlying canvas texture to show through and giving the surface a slightly rough finish. A palette of greens, browns, and grays, softened by a pale sky, reinforces the calm, understated mood of the scene.
History & Provenance
Created in 1910, Cei Newydd, near Talsarnau entered the collection of the National Library of Wales, where it remains on view. The painting forms part of Edwards’ broader output of Welsh landscapes, documenting local topography and architecture during a period of significant social and economic change in the region.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Kelt Edwards painted quiet scenes of Wales in the early 1900s—garden statues, rocky hillsides, and a village called Cei Newydd near Talsarnau.
