Joseph Mallord William Turner

Lake Llanberis and Dolbadarn Castle

1799–1800

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment
Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Part of
Drawings Related to the Welsh Tour of
Medium
Graphite and watercolour on paper
Dimensions
Support: 553 × 761 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Reference
D04175
Turner Bequest LXX X

Display caption

Dolbadern Castle was one of Turner's favourite Welsh motifs. The distinctive round keep of the Norman castle stands on a rocky promontory at the edge of
Lake Llanberis.

 

The visual impact of Dolbadern was not the only fascination for Turner. He was also interested in the broader historical associations of the castle. It was thought to be the place where a Welsh prince
was imprisoned by his own brother for over twenty years. The perfect stillness
of the lake and sky lend an ethereal quality to this study.

 

Gallery label, September 2002

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